John Robert Graber

John “Bud” Graber was born in Milo, North Dakota on October 15, 1916 to John P. and Delilah Graber. His family left Indiana as a group of Mennonites to come to North Dakota to farm. Two of his siblings were in tow to be followed by five additional siblings born in North Dakota. It was 1925 when the Graber clan moved to Fargo. John attended NDSU for one quarter before joining the National Guard in 1934.

John was the first Graber son to join the Army in 1941. He was sent to Cheyenne, Wyoming and shortly after arriving there, he sent for the love of his life, Maxine King, to come to marry him. She drove with his sister, Irene Fraser and they were married June 1, 1941. They were sent to Tacoma, Washington on December 11, 1941, four days after Pearl Harbor. Then John shipped to England in December 1943. John was in the 957th Field Artillery Battalion and he served in five campaigns as 1st Sergeant (Normandy, Northern Europe, Central Europe, Ardennes-Battle of the Bulge, and Rhineland).

At his memorial service, a prayer written by John will be read that reveals to all the depth of his unwavering lifelong bond and commitment to his fellow comrades and his country.

John returned to Fargo on October 8, 1945 and went to work at the Fargo Post Office for the next 28 years. He was President of the local union for three terms and State President for two terms. He was on the Board of Trustees for 10 years and attended seven national conventions as a representative for the Fargo postal carriers. He retired June 30, 1973 and enjoyed a new career as a realtor. Of course, we cannot forget his years as owner of “Honest” John’s City Market on Main Street, where many great tales originated! He operated it from 1954-1966.

He was a member of the Elks for 70 years and the VFW since 1945. John was also an avid Bison football fan and chairman of the committee that honored local outstanding high school athletes.

He was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ.

Achievements aside, John’s greatest love was for his children, Judy, John, Gary, and Paul. No one doubted his priorities and that continued to include his grandchildren, Todd, Jenny, and Lindsay, and the four great-grandchildren, Maxine, Bailey, Annie, and Chloe who loved him as Great Papa. He never missed a christening, graduation, marriage or any event important to any one of us and traveled many times to Wyoming, California and Arizona to visit.

John is survived by his daughter, Judy (Ken) St. Sure; son, Gary (Cathy) Graber; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Gen Korsmo; sister-in-law, Carolyn Jacobson, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Maxine, in 1993; his son John, in 1999 and his son Paul, in 2009; his granddaughter, Charisse; his parents; his brothers, Fred, Art, Ed; and sisters, Hulda, Francis and Irene.