John McGraw

John F. McGraw, age 68 of Maplewood, died Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM, SATURDAY MAY 12, 2012 at St Thomas Aquinas Church, 920 Holly Ave, St Paul Park, with visitation one hour prior. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Memorials are preferred to family's choice.

John was born December 11, 1943 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Charles and Mary (Gannon) McGraw. He attended Resurrection Grade School and graduated from DeLaSalle High School in 1961. He went on to attend the University of St. Thomas before entering active duty with the US Air Force in 1964. He worked in communications in Thulee, Greenland and was assigned to the 821st Air Base Group and then assigned to Japan where he learned to speak the Japanese language fluently. Following his military service he returned to the US where he worked various jobs and was able to travel the USA and Europe extensively including the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.

He was a very social man who loved to share a good joke. He enjoyed his cowboy hat and watching the religious channel EWTN whenever he could. He encountered many special people in his life including the staff at Maplewood Care Center and especially Howard, whom he affectionately referred to as "Baba Louie."

Survived by brothers; Michael (Roxie) McGraw, Dr. Charles (Patti) McGraw, sisters; Mollie (Tom) Detviler, Cathy & Peggy McGraw, Anne (Skip) Erickson, Suzie (Dr. Kevin) Nakagaki, 15 nieces & nephews, Preceded by his parents, Charles & Mary; brothers, Pat & Dan; sister Therese; niece Nettie.