William “Singing Bill” R. Graff, 78, of La Crosse, passed away Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, at the VA Medical Center in Tomah, Wisconsin. He was born June 18, 1938, in La Crosse to Andrew and Agnes (Irvine) Graff. Bill was a 1956 graduate of Viroqua High School. He then served in the United States Army. Bill worked at Gateway Transportation, American Motors, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Ace Hardware where he was a manager, and Intermatic. Bill’s hobbies included playing pool, bowling, and dancing. Most of all, Bill was a great country western singer and entertainer and during his singing career, he was known as Singing Cowboy Bill or Alligator Bill. Bill was an old classic car guy and loved attending many antique car shows in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Florida. During the last few months as his health was failing, Bill would often say “I’m going down my last highway”. Bill was a wonderful man and loved by many people. Everyone came to hear him sing. He will be missed by so many family and friends.∼William “Singing Bill” R. Graff, 78, of La Crosse, passed away Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, at the VA Medical Center in Tomah, Wis., due to heart and kidney failure.
He was born June 18, 1938, in La Crosse to Andrew and Agnes (Irvine) Graff. Bill was a 1956 graduate of Viroqua High School.
He then served in the United States Army.
He married Pat Cawthon and they later divorced.
Bill worked at Gateway Transportation, American Motors, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Ace Hardware where he was a manager, and Intermatic.
Bill met Alice Van Riper and they have shared the last 17 years together. They spent twelve winters in Florida where they met many nice people from other states and Canada.
Bill’s hobbies included playing pool, bowling, dancing, and he was a Green Bay Packer and Wisconsin Badger fan.
Most of all, Bill was a great country western singer and entertainer and during his singing career, he was known as Singing Cowboy Bill or Alligator Bill. Bill was an old classic car guy and loved attending many antique car shows in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Florida.
During the last few months as his health was failing, Bill would often say “I’m going down my last highway”.
Survivors include his son, Dale (Cindy) Graff; his daughter, Lisa (David) LaBuda; his significant other, Alice Van Riper; his ex-wife, Pat Cawthon; six grandchildren, Nyssa Graff, Kerri Graff and Emilie, Rebecca, Robert, and Laura LaBuda; four brothers, Tom (Sally) Graff, Paul (Marge) Graff, Gerald (Sandy) Graff, and Larry (Terri) Graham; two step-brothers, Gary (Pat) Graham and Arlie (Kathy) Graham; two step-sisters, Marge Ruud and Pam; and one step-brother-in-law, Henry “Hank” Stewart.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Ray Graff; two step-brothers, Gale Graham and Arvid Graham; two step-sisters, Shirley Thurin and Joann Stewart; and two step-fathers, Lawrence Graham and Everett Stankey.
In accordance with Bill’s wishes, his body was cremated and a celebration of life and burial with military honors will be at a later date. Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Woodruff Chapel, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements.
Bill was a wonderful man and loved by many people. Everyone came to hear him sing. He will be missed by so many family and friends.
Obituary & photo published by Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory
He was born June 18, 1938, in La Crosse to Andrew and Agnes (Irvine) Graff. Bill was a 1956 graduate of Viroqua High School.
He then served in the United States Army.
He married Pat Cawthon and they later divorced.
Bill worked at Gateway Transportation, American Motors, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Ace Hardware where he was a manager, and Intermatic.
Bill met Alice Van Riper and they have shared the last 17 years together. They spent twelve winters in Florida where they met many nice people from other states and Canada.
Bill’s hobbies included playing pool, bowling, dancing, and he was a Green Bay Packer and Wisconsin Badger fan.
Most of all, Bill was a great country western singer and entertainer and during his singing career, he was known as Singing Cowboy Bill or Alligator Bill. Bill was an old classic car guy and loved attending many antique car shows in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Florida.
During the last few months as his health was failing, Bill would often say “I’m going down my last highway”.
Survivors include his son, Dale (Cindy) Graff; his daughter, Lisa (David) LaBuda; his significant other, Alice Van Riper; his ex-wife, Pat Cawthon; six grandchildren, Nyssa Graff, Kerri Graff and Emilie, Rebecca, Robert, and Laura LaBuda; four brothers, Tom (Sally) Graff, Paul (Marge) Graff, Gerald (Sandy) Graff, and Larry (Terri) Graham; two step-brothers, Gary (Pat) Graham and Arlie (Kathy) Graham; two step-sisters, Marge Ruud and Pam; and one step-brother-in-law, Henry “Hank” Stewart.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Ray Graff; two step-brothers, Gale Graham and Arvid Graham; two step-sisters, Shirley Thurin and Joann Stewart; and two step-fathers, Lawrence Graham and Everett Stankey.
In accordance with Bill’s wishes, his body was cremated and a celebration of life and burial with military honors will be at a later date. Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Woodruff Chapel, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements.
Bill was a wonderful man and loved by many people. Everyone came to hear him sing. He will be missed by so many family and friends.
Obituary & photo published by Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory
William “Singing Bill” R. Graff, 78, of La Crosse, passed away Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, at the VA Medical Center in Tomah, Wisconsin. He was born June 18, 1938, in La Crosse to Andrew and Agnes (Irvine) Graff. Bill was a 1956 graduate of Viroqua High School. He then served in the United States Army. Bill worked at Gateway Transportation, American Motors, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Ace Hardware where he was a manager, and Intermatic. Bill’s hobbies included playing pool, bowling, and dancing. Most of all, Bill was a great country western singer and entertainer and during his singing career, he was known as Singing Cowboy Bill or Alligator Bill. Bill was an old classic car guy and loved attending many antique car shows in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Florida. During the last few months as his health was failing, Bill would often say “I’m going down my last highway”. Bill was a wonderful man and loved by many people. Everyone came to hear him sing. He will be missed by so many family and friends.∼William “Singing Bill” R. Graff, 78, of La Crosse, passed away Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, at the VA Medical Center in Tomah, Wis., due to heart and kidney failure.
He was born June 18, 1938, in La Crosse to Andrew and Agnes (Irvine) Graff. Bill was a 1956 graduate of Viroqua High School.
He then served in the United States Army.
He married Pat Cawthon and they later divorced.
Bill worked at Gateway Transportation, American Motors, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Ace Hardware where he was a manager, and Intermatic.
Bill met Alice Van Riper and they have shared the last 17 years together. They spent twelve winters in Florida where they met many nice people from other states and Canada.
Bill’s hobbies included playing pool, bowling, dancing, and he was a Green Bay Packer and Wisconsin Badger fan.
Most of all, Bill was a great country western singer and entertainer and during his singing career, he was known as Singing Cowboy Bill or Alligator Bill. Bill was an old classic car guy and loved attending many antique car shows in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Florida.
During the last few months as his health was failing, Bill would often say “I’m going down my last highway”.
Survivors include his son, Dale (Cindy) Graff; his daughter, Lisa (David) LaBuda; his significant other, Alice Van Riper; his ex-wife, Pat Cawthon; six grandchildren, Nyssa Graff, Kerri Graff and Emilie, Rebecca, Robert, and Laura LaBuda; four brothers, Tom (Sally) Graff, Paul (Marge) Graff, Gerald (Sandy) Graff, and Larry (Terri) Graham; two step-brothers, Gary (Pat) Graham and Arlie (Kathy) Graham; two step-sisters, Marge Ruud and Pam; and one step-brother-in-law, Henry “Hank” Stewart.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Ray Graff; two step-brothers, Gale Graham and Arvid Graham; two step-sisters, Shirley Thurin and Joann Stewart; and two step-fathers, Lawrence Graham and Everett Stankey.
In accordance with Bill’s wishes, his body was cremated and a celebration of life and burial with military honors will be at a later date. Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Woodruff Chapel, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements.
Bill was a wonderful man and loved by many people. Everyone came to hear him sing. He will be missed by so many family and friends.
Obituary & photo published by Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory
He was born June 18, 1938, in La Crosse to Andrew and Agnes (Irvine) Graff. Bill was a 1956 graduate of Viroqua High School.
He then served in the United States Army.
He married Pat Cawthon and they later divorced.
Bill worked at Gateway Transportation, American Motors, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Ace Hardware where he was a manager, and Intermatic.
Bill met Alice Van Riper and they have shared the last 17 years together. They spent twelve winters in Florida where they met many nice people from other states and Canada.
Bill’s hobbies included playing pool, bowling, dancing, and he was a Green Bay Packer and Wisconsin Badger fan.
Most of all, Bill was a great country western singer and entertainer and during his singing career, he was known as Singing Cowboy Bill or Alligator Bill. Bill was an old classic car guy and loved attending many antique car shows in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and Florida.
During the last few months as his health was failing, Bill would often say “I’m going down my last highway”.
Survivors include his son, Dale (Cindy) Graff; his daughter, Lisa (David) LaBuda; his significant other, Alice Van Riper; his ex-wife, Pat Cawthon; six grandchildren, Nyssa Graff, Kerri Graff and Emilie, Rebecca, Robert, and Laura LaBuda; four brothers, Tom (Sally) Graff, Paul (Marge) Graff, Gerald (Sandy) Graff, and Larry (Terri) Graham; two step-brothers, Gary (Pat) Graham and Arlie (Kathy) Graham; two step-sisters, Marge Ruud and Pam; and one step-brother-in-law, Henry “Hank” Stewart.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Ray Graff; two step-brothers, Gale Graham and Arvid Graham; two step-sisters, Shirley Thurin and Joann Stewart; and two step-fathers, Lawrence Graham and Everett Stankey.
In accordance with Bill’s wishes, his body was cremated and a celebration of life and burial with military honors will be at a later date. Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Woodruff Chapel, La Crosse, is in charge of arrangements.
Bill was a wonderful man and loved by many people. Everyone came to hear him sing. He will be missed by so many family and friends.
Obituary & photo published by Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory
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