Harry Edward Graber, lovingly known as Sonny, was born on August 1, 1948, in Bay City, Michigan, and departed this life on April 20, 2026, in Hines, Illinois, after an illness, leaving behind a legacy of steadfast devotion, quiet strength, and a life well and faithfully lived.

He was the beloved husband of Doris Graber, and together they shared a bond marked by tenderness, loyalty, and the kind of companionship that time only deepened. He was a devoted father to his daughters, Pamela Graber, wife of Ralph Booth, and Angela Graber, and a proud grandfather to Morgan Booth and Brent Booth. He also leaves behind many special friends and relatives, all of whom were touched by his generous spirit, his warm presence, and the steady goodness that dwelt within him.

Sonny was born and raised in Bay City, where the roots of his character were set deep in the soil of hard work, humility, and family devotion. He graduated from Handy High School, and soon after, he answered the call to serve his country by joining the United States Navy. There he served as a jet mechanic, tending to machines of power and speed with skillful hands and a careful mind. In that service, he learned discipline, precision, and the honor of duty, virtues that would guide him throughout all the years of his life.

Following his military service, he returned to civilian life and worked at General Motors in the Bay City plant for more than thirty years. There, through diligence and perseverance, he rose through the years and concluded his career as a computer programmer. His work was marked not only by intelligence, but by the thoughtful and selfless manner in which he carried himself among others. He was one who stayed busy, who found purpose in labor, and who took pride in doing a thing well. His hands were never idle for long, for he delighted in working with them, shaping, fixing, and mending as though the labor itself were a kind of prayer.

He was also a man of fellowship and service, and he held membership in the VFW and the American Legion, where he stood among fellow veterans with honor and respect. In these associations, as in all things, he carried himself with quiet dignity and the unspoken nobility of one who had given of himself without seeking applause.

Sonny was a Christian, and his faith was part of the foundation upon which he built his days. Though he did not trumpet his beliefs, they were evident in the manner of his living, in his patience, his kindness, and his enduring concern for others. He moved through the world with a spirit that was gentle yet strong, and those who knew him well understood that his goodness was no fleeting ornament, but a true and abiding part of his nature.

He was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing, and in the stillness of water and the quiet of open places, he found peace and pleasure. He also cherished traveling, for he delighted in the sights and the journeying of life, and he treasured every opportunity to spend time with family. In his younger years, he enjoyed riding motorcycles, embracing the open road with the vigor and freedom of youth. These joys, simple and sincere, were among the many threads that wove the tapestry of his days.

Those who knew Sonny will remember him as intelligent, thoughtful, and selfless, a man whose presence brought steadiness, whose words carried weight, and whose actions spoke with greater eloquence than speech ever could. He was one who gave without boasting, who labored without complaint, and who loved without reserve. His life was not one of loud display, but of faithful substance, and therein lay its beauty.

Now he rests from his earthly labors, having passed from the sight of those who loved him, yet not from their hearts. Though death has claimed his body, it cannot diminish the value of his life, nor silence the echo of his goodness in the lives of those he touched. His memory shall remain as a lamp set in the window of the soul, giving light to all who loved him and all who shall speak his name in years to come.

In the hearts of Doris, Pamela, Angela, Morgan, Brent, and all who counted themselves blessed to know him, Harry Edward Graber, Sonny, shall be remembered with reverence and affection. His journey among us is ended, but his example abides, and his love, like a well-tended flame, shall continue to warm the lives of those who carry him forward in memory. A memorial service will be announced at a later time