Walter J. Graf

Walter "Yogi" Graf entered into Heaven on March 21, 2018, with his wife by his side. He had been dealing with amyloidosis/multiple myeloma since 2015, which is a disease that comes out of the bone marrow and is very rare. Yogi was born to Margaret Louise and Walter J. Graf, Sr. on February 3, 1947, at Fountain Hill, PA. Through grammar school, they had to come up with a Cartoon Monikers, and as Yogi always finished his meal, he would then eat others, so they nicknamed him "Yogi, the pic-a-nic-basket bear"! He went through schooling, the Navy, and all of his life with that name, and was very proud of it. Even the staff at Wenatchee Valley Clinic and Central Washington Hospital were trained! After moving to Washington State, he would come over to the east side for the sun, fishing, hunting, and to get away from the rain. Yogi became dedicated to helping Veterans, driving the DAV Van for at least ten years, to their appointments at Spokane VA Medical Center. He was a Vietnam Veteran, and also got involved with American Legion Post 10. So, after a few years, Yogi was able to put his uniform together and wear it on Veteran's Day proudly, as it wasn't that way when he came home from the war. He dedicated his life after that to Post 10, becoming the Sargent-At-Arms, then 9th District, and the greatest honor was for the Department of Washington. Yogi was a lifetime member of VFW 3617 and Vietnam Veterans of America. We will miss him dearly. Anyone that didn't know him thought he was a grizzly bear, but he was a teddy bear. Many thanks to the staff of Hospice, Wenatchee Valley Clinic, and Central Washington Hospital for their loving care and kind words. Yogi is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughter, Jeannine (Brian) Jonsson; grandchildren: Calvin and Jessica Dygert; step-son, Scott; step-granddaughter, Melody; sisters: Peggy, Louise; and brother, Michael. A Celebration of Life will be held at the American Legion Post 10, 208 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee, WA, on Saturday, April 28, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. The interment will be held at a later date at the Washington State Veteran's Cemetery, near Medical Lake, WA. Memorial donations may be given to Shirley Graf or the Amyloidosis Foundation for research. The family wishes to thank Rick Phillips and staff at Chapel of the Valley, Wenatchee, WA, for assisting with the arrangements.

Walter J. Graf

February 3, 1947 - March 21, 2018