Bonnie Graeter's Obituary
Bonnie Joy Graeter, 79, went to heaven December 28, 2014. Bonnie was a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother. She was born February 1, 1935 in Houston, Texas. Her parents, Clarence Fisher and Leona Fisher Langley preceded her in death; as well as her sister Rowena Fisher, brother Sonny Reggs and her twin sister Betty Van Ostrand. Bonnie is survived by her husband of 58 years, Harold Graeter, Sr. of Memphis; daughter Cynthia Graeter of Memphis and son Harold Graeter, Jr. (Dawn) of Memphis. Grammy, as Bonnie was called by her grandchildren, is survived by Austin Graeter (Jennifer) of Murfreesboro, TN; Cameron Graeter of Memphis; Sydney Graeter of Memphis and Austin Fulwood of Memphis. Bonnie is also survived by many family members in Texas, including her sister Beatrice Williams; brother Clarence Fisher, Jr.; cousin Billy May, brother-in-law LeeRoy Graeter; sister-in-law Louise Graeter and many nieces and nephews. Bonnie graduated from Klein High School in Houston and during high school she met Harold. After five years of dating (and a car loan Harold never repaid Bonnie), they married June 17, 1956. Their early life together included Harold’s service in the Army, with stops in Ft. Lee, Virginia and Germany. During this time in 1958, Bonnie flew from Germany back home to Houston for the birth of Cynthia. After his stint in the Army, Harold went to work for Colgate and the young Graeter family lived in San Antonio and Houston. In 1961, Harold, Jr. was born in Houston and the family eventually moved from Houston to Mobile, Alabama and in 1967 to Memphis. Bonnie touched many lives during her 79 years, but her focus and priorities were always her family and church. Bonnie was an active and faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Memphis since 1967. She was active with the various women’s organizations and worked for the Mid-South District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for many years. During the years Cynthia and Harold attended Immanuel Lutheran School, her devotion and dedication to her family and church was even more evident. Bonnie was a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout leader and youth group leader at Immanuel when her kids were members of those groups. As the years went by, she was always present, encouraging and supportive of Cynthia and Harold’s activities (piano lessons and recitals and high school basketball for Cynthia, baseball and basketball for Harold). With Harold, Sr. traveling with Colgate during his career, Bonnie was the person who lovingly made sure her family’s needs were taken care of, always putting them first before herself. She was the world’s greatest wife and mother! In retirement, Bonnie and Harold enjoyed traveling to Gulf Shores, back to Texas to visit family and many other destinations. But most importantly she rejoiced and celebrated the arrival of grandchildren. Just as she had done when Cynthia and Harold were young, Grammy was always in attendance when the grandkids had a school event, ballgame, birthday or graduation. Most enjoyable to her was just having her kids and grandkids visit or give her a call on the phone so she knew they were safe and OK. Grammy loved Austin, Cameron, Sydney and Austin and she knew that love was returned by each of them. She was also the world’s greatest grandmother! The past 15 years were not easy for Bonnie after multi-by-pass heart surgery and subsequent diagnosis of diabetes and the resulting 3-days-a-week dialysis treatments. However, she endured with the love of her life, Harold, by her side tending to her daily needs. Bonnie and Harold were a wonderful example of Christian love and dedication as husband and wife. In all, they were together 60 years. In Bonnie’s final days she was able to enjoy and celebrate the two most important parts of her life, church and family. Bonnie joined with her church family to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve and then she was with her entire family at Harold and Dawn’s home on Christmas Day. Today, Bonnie’s family and friends celebrate her life and enjoy wonderful memories they have of her. They also rejoice that her pain and suffering are over and that she is with Jesus in heaven in the place that the Lord had prepared for her. Visitation will be Friday, January 2, 2015 at Immanuel Lutheran Church from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. A service to celebrate her life will follow at 11 a.m., with burial at Memorial Park Cemetery on Poplar Avenue. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation to the Grese-Sohn Endowment at Immanuel Lutheran Church. 6325 Raleigh-LaGrange Road; Memphis, TN 38134We love you Bonnie (Sweetie), Mom, Grammy!Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis TN 38119, “Behind the Stone Wall.”
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