Willie was born on March 24, 1927 in Outlook, WA to Dick Sr. and Sarah (Dekker) Van de Graaf. He was born at home on a 10 acre farm his father owned on Knowles Rd. He was a first generation American; Dick Sr. had immigrated to the US in 1918 and Sarah with her family in 1920. He joined his older sister, Barbara, followed by his brothers Lenard and Dick, Jr. and sister Lydia. The family moved to a small farm on Progressive Road in Brownstown in 1932 and, in 1934, moved to Yost Road in White Swan where they cleared sagebrush for farm ground with their team of horses. They raised seed potatoes, grain, alfalfa seed and cattle.
He grew up in White Swan, with great neighbors, friends and extended family, attending White Swan schools until halfway through the 9th grade, skipping school often. Finally, he stopped attending. Willie felt he learned more from their farm hands and working “hands on” the farm than he did from a school book.
Willie and his brothers hunted bobcats with their faithful dog, Pep. Life was full of adventures. He had several favorite horses and loved rodeos. He participated in rodeos as a young man and enjoyed watching them his entire life, even attending the Ellensburg Rodeo this past Labor Day at age 95.
On December 1, 1949, he was drafted during the Korean War and reported to Ft. Lewis, then the Yakima Firing Center. Since he was proficient in Dutch, he traveled cross country by troop train to Camp Kilmer, NJ, then by a ship to Bremerhaven, Germany en route to his new station in Mannheim, Germany from September, 1950 until October, 1951.
After returning from Germany, he continued farming and feeding cattle in White Swan with his father and brother Lenard. He and his dad built a cabin at Andy Creek at Rimrock Lake in the early 1950’s.
He married Erma Jane Affholter on March 5, 1955. His daughter, Genny and his son, Bill, Jr. were welcomed soon after.
The family moved to Grandview in 1961 when his parents retired and the family farm was sold, and he operated a small beef cattle feedlot on Orchard Tracts Hwy. where son, Bob, joined the family.
After experiencing tough financial times, he sold the feedlot in 1964 and took a job as foreman for Valley Feeding Co., owned by Harry Herring, located on Peanut Hump in Sunnyside. His youngest son, Greg, was born in 1965.
He enjoyed sorting fat cattle and riding his horse through the feedlot pens, as well as managing the employees and operating a state of the art feed mill. After several ownership changes, he was open to new opportunities and, in 1975, Bob Dolsen reached out and asked him if was available to manage his dairy operation, The Cow Palace, in Granger.
He was a fair man, and his word and handshake confirmed the deal. He was slow to anger but, when he got mad, watch out - he could blister you with words! He worked for the Dolsen family until the late 1990’s.
In October of 2022, he arranged a field trip to the Cow Palace Dairy for his assisted living friends and staff. They had a tour of the dairy operation and then a steak dinner at the Squeeze Inn in Zillah; he still took pride in the success and growth of the dairy.
When his kids were young, there were many Sunday drives to Rimrock or Chinook Pass and fishing trips to Toppenish Creek and Twin Lakes. He was Uncle Bill to his nieces and nephews, and they all enjoyed his easy going personality and teasing.
His wife, Erma, passed away on Sept. 27, 1984 after an extended illness.
Willie married Carolyn Ruth Clifton on September 14, 1985 in Yakima, WA and they were great companions. They attended Wiley Heights Covenant Church enjoying many friendships there. They also had other travels and adventures, played cards with pinochle groups and enjoyed their annual visits to Twin Lakes.
Willie loved his family and friends, but had three hobbies/past times that he enjoyed immensely: hunting deer, elk and wild turkeys; fishing; and riding horseback and rounding up cattle.
Grandpa Willie was a shrewd card player and won many games with his kids and grandkids. He always enjoyed Ellensburg Rodeo weekend at his brother Dick’s ranch, playing cards and sharing his special stories. He had a great memory and was a keen storyteller; with a twinkle in his eye, he loved having an audience!
His idea of paradise was fishing at Twin Lakes at Inchelium, WA, a family tradition for over fifty years. He was the consummate fisherman, had many favorite fishing holes and special lures.
He loved to hunt and had much success! He bagged a deer at age 91, and enjoyed elk and turkey hunting, too, with his son, Bill, and grandsons, Casey & Derek. He was proud that he taught the boys well and that they loved the outdoors as much as he did and hoped his great grandsons would carry on the tradition.
Willie supported his grandchildren by attending many sporting, dance and other events throughout the years. They all knew how much he loved them as he showed his pride at their many accomplishments.
In 2019, after a fall at home, he and Carolyn sold their home on West Lincoln and moved to Avamere at Englewood Heights Assisted Living. He enjoyed socializing, yoga, kickball, bingo and playing blackjack. He was elected President of the Resident Council at Avamere, as he was a good spokesperson for the residents and had a good relationship with management.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Carolyn; his daughter, Genny (Jake) DeRuyter; his three sons, Bill (Marsha), Bob (Mary) and Greg (Laura) Van de Graaf; his step-children, Jay (Sherry) Clifton, Jan (Gary) Logston, and Jim (Lorri) Clifton; thirteen grandchildren: Alissa, Casey, Derek, Samantha, Erika, Caitlin, Emily, Parker, Dekker, Kyle, Kelsey, Tommy & Grace; great-grandchildren, Carson, Landon, Adelynn, Cecilia, Colton, Harper, Finley, Jameson, Annalia, Hunter, Liam, Bailey, Tayler & Bristol; his brother and best friend, Dick Van de Graaf Jr. (Maxine), one sister, Lydia Lommers, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Dick and Sarah; wife, Erma; sister, Barbara Mosier; brother, Lenard Van de Graaf and grandsons Aaron Van de Graaf & Patrick Clifton.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Drs. David Krueger & David Doornink; the staff at Avamere @ Englewood Heights; Hospice nurses December and Emily, and Dr. Sean Bernfeld for his honest conversations and wisdom.
Memorial gifts in Willie’s honor are welcomed to Wiley Heights Covenant Church, 12504 Gilbert Rd., Yakima, WA 98903 or Heartlinks Hospice and Palliative Care, 204 W. 2nd St., Grandview, WA 98930.
Graveside services will be held on Monday, January 23, 2023 at 10 am at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, 3001 Terrace Heights Drive, Yakima, WA 98901 followed by a Celebration of Life at 11 am at Wiley Heights Covenant Church, 12504 Gilbert Road, Yakima, WA 98903.
