Todd Graef

Jerry E. “Todd” Graef II, age 50, of Dover, died unexpectedly as the result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident in Muskingum County. Best known as Todd to his friends, he was employed by Commercial Honing where he worked as a machinist for the past nine years. Todd’s career spanned the past thirty years in both specialty machining and in farming beef cattle. The fourth generation in his family to farm, Todd was reared on a farm that raised beef and hogs. He presently kept a herd of Black Angus cattle on his own farm, in addition to farming some adjoining properties. Born at Dover on Christmas Day, 1956, he was a loving son of Jerry E.and Ruth M. Weaver Graef who reside on the farm where Todd was reared in Lawrence Township. Todd was a 1976 graduate of Tuscarawas Valley High School and had an extended history of involvement in 4-H activities. The Graef family have been longtime members of St. John’s United Church of Christ at Dover. On April 23, 1983, Todd married the former Suzanne Wilson. Their only child, a daughter, Ashley was born January 1, 1984, and had the distinction of being Tuscarawas County’s New Year’s Baby. Suzanne survives, and lives on the farm she and Todd operated adjacent to his parent’s property. Ashley married Bob Fait, and they reside together at Goshen. His family also includes three sisters; Carol Dennison of Mansfield, Ohio, Beth (husband John) Bowers and Julie (husband Jim) Zeigler, all of Dover. Todd was especially fond of spending time with his daughter Ashley and his nieces and nephews who include Mark (wife Jennifer) Dennison of Mansfield, Kolte Bowers of Bolivar, Brooke (husband Andrew) Gordon of Dover, twins Brittany and Brianne Bowers of Dover, Jordan, Clay and Hunter Zeigler, all of Dover and great niece and nephew Caitlin and Jacob Dennison of Mansfield. Todd also traveled with his daughter and other family and friends to Wayne National Park where they would enjoy days of dirt bike riding and four-wheeling.Todd and his dad would close every day by gathering in the shop discussing the day’s events over a glass of cider. Many nights they were joined by others from the neighborhood. Todd loved his cattle and John Deere tractors.Earlier this summer, Todd took two weeks vacation from work and farming to travel with his wife and friends on a motorcycle adventure to Colorado where they rode to the summit of Pike’s Peak, and visited Dodge City, Kansas, the setting of Gunsmoke. The memories made on that trip will forever be cherished by his loving wife and friends who accompanied the couple. Todd will be dearly missed by his mother and father in law, Judy (husband Keith) Abel of Carrollton and Roy (wife Mary Ann) Wilson of Bolivar, a grandmother-in-law, Beulah Wilson of Carrollton, and brothers- in- law Randy, Rodney, and Rusty Wilson. Numerous other aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins complete the family. Todd is preceded in death by an infant brother, Douglas Graef and brother-in-law, Richard Wilson.His presence will be greatly missed at the dinner table on holidays, and from his place of work, Commercial Honing, where he was presently served as Union Steward of Local #1363 of the Auto Mechanics Union. The Graef family will receive friends Friday, September 28, from 2-4 and from 6-8PM in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover. The Reverend Michael Lowry will lead the Graef Funeral Saturday morning at 10:30 in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover. Burial will follow in Ruslin Hills Cemetery. Following the committal service, family and friends will gather for a meal in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover. Todd’s generosity continues as he was an organ donor and has now allowed continued life for others. Memorial contributions may be made to Life Line of Ohio 770 Kinnear Rd. Suite 200 Columbus, Ohio 43212 or to the charity of the donor’s choice.