Howard C. Graff

Howard C. Graff, 85, left this world in his own way on August 28, 2022, to be with his parents, John and Esther (Burrow) Graff, and his sisters, Gladys (Richard) Zurawski and Evelyn Graff. Howard was born March 12, 1937, in his parent’s home in the southwest Chicago neighborhood of Brighton Park, later moving to Marquette Park.  He was a graduate of Kelly High School and the Illinois Institute of Technology earning a degree in civil engineering, then a structural engineering degree.

Howard and his wife, Patricia (Kulovitz), were married for 61 years raising their four children in Naperville, IL: Katherine (Eugene) Kus, Michael (Monica) Graff, Heidi (Tom) Hartzell, Scott (DeAnne) Graff.  They have 12 grandchildren:  Allen (Tyna), Brian (Heather), Amy, Jeffrey Kus; Taylor (Bradley) Jones, Jonathan, Camryn Graff; Matthew (Shelby), Scott (Chelsie) Hartzell; Dinneen, Ellory, Ethan Graff; and one great-grandchild due next year. He was “Uncle Bruno” to Darline (Zurawski) Garippo and John Zurawski.

Howard’s career was long and successful. He began at Wiesinger-Holland Ltd. in the Chicago Loop.  In 1980 the firm was reorganized and named Beer, Gorski & Graff Ltd.  The emphasis of their firm was structural masonry engineering, allowing them to work on many notable buildings in Chicago, the surrounding suburbs, Wisconsin, and Indiana.  He was a member and contributor to several engineering organizations, receiving various awards and accolades. The project that gave him the most pride was the structural improvements made to The Auditorium Theater allowing “The Phantom of The Opera” to make its Chicago debut performance in 1990.  He was also instrumental in the move and building of the new Bethany Lutheran Church & School in Naperville, IL.

Upon retirement to Hot Springs Village, AR Howard and Pat joined Faith Lutheran Church.  There he headed the Lutheran Braille Workers, a national organization of the Lutheran Church. With Howard’s leadership and organization books of the bible were printed in braille, assembled, then sent all over the world to bring God’s word to the blind.

Howard was a man of great faith, love of family, humble, loyal, tinkerer, saver of anything useful, sandwich maker extraordinaire, fisherman and gardener.  Dad, you no longer need to: “Wait now.”

A funeral service will be held 10:30 A.M. Saturday, September 3, 2022, at Moss Family Funeral Home, 209 South Batavia Ave. Batavia, IL.  Visitation will be held 9:30 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Howard’s name to Lutheran Braille Workers at: www.lbwloveworks.org/get-involved/donate/