John Paul Graves

MADISON- John Paul Graves, age 62, of Madison, left us to be with his Heavenly Father on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015. Born in Kiowa, Kan., on Oct. 12, 1952 to John Leroy Graves Jr. and MaryAnn Sullivan Graves, John lived his early life in Wichita until the age of 16. A job transfer took them to Lansing, Mich. where John would finish high school and meet his future wife, Kristine, during his senior year. He went on to graduate with a degree in engineering from Ferris State University. John began his technical career at Centronics / Controlled Data in Rochester, Mich., where he would work for 13 years. Following a two-year period at a small company working on research and development, John spent the last 26 years working at Thermo Fisher Scientific which took him from Dearborn, Mich., to Massachusetts and finally to Madison. John was a deeply respected and wonderful man to whom family always came first. He shared his intelligence, humor, smile and his intrinsic morality inherited from his parents with all who knew him. His many gifts and talents led to accomplishments including achieving Eagle Scout, like his father and grandfather before him, winning awards for machine tooling and wood working, and building countless designs for his family and friends. His talent for art was shared with all around him in numerous paintings and countless beautiful photographs. His talent for music was shared through his voice and could be heard in the choirs of every church he attended over the years, including nine years with High Point Church in Madison. John is survived by his wife, Kristine Davis Graves; daughter, Jenny Lyn Graves (Scott) Emery; grandchildren, Taylir, Zachary, and Marcus Emery; son, Paul Thomas (Heather Dick) Graves; grandchildren, Pace Williams and Scarlett Graves; sister, Suzette Graves (Steve) Bentley; sister, Julie Graves (Frank) Tilmann; nieces, Kari and Marilynn Martin; brother, Jody (Pamela Riddle) Graves; nephew, John Michael; niece, Amanda Graves; and surrogate children, Bevin and Ryan Fields, and Cindy Lawrence. John was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be held at HIGH POINT CHURCH, 7702 Old Sauk Road, Madison, at Noon on Friday, Feb. 13, 2015. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., and on Friday from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in the name of John Graves to either the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson Fitchburg Funeral & Cremation Care 2950 Chapel Valley Road (608)442-5002