Max J. Graf III

Max J. Graf III passed away on June 9, 2021 at Lutheran Hospital of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born on March 4, 1924 in Tarrytown, New York. He graduated from high school in Malverne Long Island, New York and Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne with his Bachelors in engineering. He worked as an engineer for Bowser, INC. and was Chief engineer for Bowser Defense Department when they moved to Tennessee. Max worked for I.T.T. of Fort Wayne; OPW in Cincinnati, Ohio; Wayne Pump Co. of Fort Wayne, and retired after 20 years from Tokheim Corp. of Fort Wayne in 1992. He was a veteran of WWII serving four years in the United States Navy Submarine Service, squadron 16. He was a Member of Fort Wayne Engineers, past President of both city and state Industrial Management Club of the YMCA and a member of American Legion Post 296. Max was a charter member of Christ United Methodist Church for over 50 years. He is survived by two sons, Max and Eric Graf, both of Fort Wayne; four daughters, Marta (William) Gruesbeck of Beavercreek, OH, Lori (Stephen) Novick of Fishers, IN, Elyse (Rick) Ziegler of Huntertown, IN, and Eva (Eric) Briggs of Osseo, MI; 15 grandchildren, Kelly Gwathney, William Gruesbeck Jr., Erin Collins, Matthew Teeters, Daniel Teeters, Jordan Novick, Megan Grimes, Mark Grimes, Rachael Powell, Brandon Grimes, Samuel Novick, Michael Teeters, Erica Briggs, Jason Ziegler, Josh Ziegler; 16 great grandchildren; sister, Babara Pratt of Venetia, PA; and sister in-law, Audrey Graf of Westminster, MD; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews all over the country. He was preceded in death by his wife, of 49 years Virginia (Favory) Graf; grandson, Chad Graf; parents, Max and Eva Graf of Orange, VA; sister and brother in-law, Betty and Roy Bailey of Oxford, NY; brothers, William Graf of Boyds MD and Charles of Westminster, MD; and brother in-law, Elwyn Pratt of Beallsville, MD. A funeral service will be held at 12:00 pm on Monday June 14, 2021 at Klaehn, Fahl, & Melton Funeral Home, 6424 Winchester Road Fort Wayne, Indiana 46819, with visitation one hour prior. Visitation will also be held from 3-7pm on Sunday, June 13, 2021 at the funeral home. Burial will be at I.O.O.F. cemetery of New Haven, Indiana. Max gave generously to numerous medical, veterans, and Native American charities. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of the following places that Max donated to; The American Diabetes Association, The American Heart Association, or Wounded Warrior Project.