Graber, Samuel Joseph

Samuel Joseph Graber, age 82, time on earth ended early Sunday, February 23, 2025 at Manor Court in Rochelle, IL. We are sad. Yet, we are grateful his suffering has ended and he is now at peace.

Sam was born on June 27, 1942 in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. He was the seventh child of Ernest and Lenora (Schaaf) Graber. He grew up in Mineral Point, WI alongside his life long friend, Tom Speich. Together, they excelled in sports; each a member of the Mineral Point High School Hall of Fame. They attended Lakeland College and continued in athletics. Sam would enter the Lakeland College Hall of Fame in 1980. While at Lakeland, he met Sandi Dalton. They married in June of 1965.

The following year, his first son, Greg, was born. A few years later, in 1968, he took a teaching position at Rochelle Township High School. It was in Rochelle, IL where Sam would settle; he would raise a family, build a business and make a home. Soon after the move to Rochelle, he was recruited to sell insurance by Ken Detweiler. Ken would become a great friend and mentor. Two more sons were born; Matt in 1969 and Andy in 1973. Throughout his life, he held on to his love of sports. He was an avid golfer and devoted fan of the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Phillies and any sport the Wisconsin Badgers were playing. He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, on the Board at the Rochelle Community Hospital and a Rotarian. He was a friend to many.

Over the years, his family grew, as Greg married Tina and Andy married Jodi. Andy would have two sons of his own; Sam’s grandsons, Jackson and Jamison. Sam is also survived by two brothers: Kenneth (Marie) Graber and Theodore (Mary) Graber.

In addition to his parents, Sam is preceded in death by four siblings: George, Mary Lou, David and Nancy.

He was kind, patient, honest, loyal and faithful.  We thank him for all he gave us and we love him.  We all look forward to the time we are reunited with Sam Graber.

Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m., Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the Unger-Horner Funeral Home, 400 N 6th St., Rochelle. 

Funeral mass will be at 12:00 noon the following day, Friday, February 28 at Ss. MARY & PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH, 224 Davis St., Mineral Point, WI with a visitation from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, prior to the service. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery in Mineral Point, WI. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Sam’s memory to St. Patrick Catholic Church, Rochelle or St. Mary and St. Paul Catholic Church, Mineral Point. 

Gorgen Funeral Home

www.gorgenfh.com