Sylvia T. Graf

MIDDLETON - Sylvia Thompson Graf passed away peacefully on August 10, 2025, at Attic Angel in Middleton.

Sylvia loved people. She enjoyed talking with people, helping people, and teaching people, for all of her 99 years. Sylvia was born to her beloved hard working Norwegian immigrant parents, Fred and Marie Thompson in Madison, a couple of years before the 1929 Depression. At age 6 months, Sylvia’s mother took Sylvia back to Bergen, Norway, her mother’s birthplace, to become acquainted with family there. The trip began by rail from Madison to New York, followed by a Transatlantic crossing on the steamship Stavangerfjord to Bergen. That was the same ship that Sylvia’s mother, Marie, first came to America on, landing at Ellis Island. Quite a journey for a mother and infant. Thus, Sylvia learned to speak Norwegian as her initial language, a skill she and her parents used through the childhood of Sylvia’s children when discussing matters the children should not know too soon, such as planning to go to the Shrine Circus. Sylvia remained in Norway a couple of years until returning to Madison as the Depression occurred. Being a child during the Depression instilled thrift and saving as a lifelong skill.  

Sylvia began grade school at Marquette School. She was a good student, often rewarded with the honor to the best students, ringing the bell to begin classes. The bell was rung by pulling a rope to engage the massive rafter mounted bell, which required grabbing a rope and hanging with all her weight to get the bell to ring. Following Marquette, Sylvia transitioned to East High School during World War II. She contributed to the war effort in many ways. She helped with efforts to gather scrap paper called for by the government. With gas rationing in effect, few private cars could access gas. Another student from a family who owned Gunderson Funeral Home could access gas for the hearse, so that was used to collect the paper. Sylvia also worked at a stand selling food to workers building Truax Field as a new military airport. She also soldered batteries for war use at the Ray-O-Vac factory. With war shortages even limiting clothing availability, Sylvia learned to skillfully sew from her mother. Sylvia graduated from East High School at about the time the war ended. She then enrolled at the University of Wisconsin. The campus was much different than now. Where Octopus Car Wash once stood on Old University Avenue was a riding stable for students. Sylvia learned horsemanship, riding in that area and down to Lake Mendota.  

While a student, she noticed another young student back from wartime service as a Navy Pilot, Truman Graf. When she was studying at the library one day he asked to sit at her table, which was a happy event. Truman then asked if she wanted to step outside for a cigarette to talk. She replied that she didn’t smoke. Truman chuckled and admitted that neither did he. On that note they stepped outside, and things clicked. Truman invited Sylvia to Tommy Dorsey’s Homecoming show at the Union. Within a year they were married. Sylvia sewed her own wedding dress and dresses of her maids of honor. The honeymoon was to Niagara Falls then New York City with memorable evenings at the Stork Club. This began a nearly 70-year marriage ending only with Truman’s death just short of turning 95.  

During the first years of marriage Sylvia’s younger brother, Bjorn, lived with her and Truman to remain in East High while their parents were in Massachusetts where Sylvia’s father, Fred, was sent by his Madison electrical firm to be the general electrical foreman during construction of a new VA hospital. In 1957 when her children ranged from 6 to 3 years, Sylvia and Truman built one of the first homes in the newly developed Hill Farms area. This was the family home until after all the children had graduated from college. During those years Sylvia returned to the UW and earned a master’s degree in the School of Human Ecology.  

Among many life accomplishments, Sylvia was asked to participate in a national cook-off by McCall’s Magazine, winning in Milwaukee, to be named Mrs. Wisconsin. This led to being sent to Chicago for an interview on the 50,000-watt clear channel WBBM radio station broadcasting throughout the Midwest. She was also featured in the weekly Sunday Know Your Madisonian feature column in the Wisconsin State Journal.  

As the children graduated high school she was recruited to teach at Madison Area Technical College, which she did until retiring. As such she worked with students of various skill levels from diverse school systems. Sylvia strived to encourage learning targeted at the skill level of each student and evaluated based on effort and improvement. She was also an active member of the Madison Oslo Sister City Committee and served as President by appointment of the mayor. As such, she hosted visits from Oslo residents and led trips of Madison area people to Norway. The Norwegian Government appointed her as representative for the Eastern U.S. of the Norsman’s Federation. This led to being invited to Oslo for a banquet hosted by King Harald V.  

Sylvia also served on the Meriter Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and Market Development Council of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. She was an active member of the Bascom Hill Society, American Home Economics Association, Omicron Nu, Attic Angel Association (which honored Sylvia with the Silver Halo Award for decades of volunteer service), University League, Daughters of Demeter, Metropolitan Woman’s Club, Wisconsin Home Economics Association, and Madison Symphony League. She was honored by WIBA-AM radio as a “Someone Special Volunteer.”

Survivors include three children, Eric (Joseph), Siri Graf Fraser and Peter (Barb); grandchildren, Sara (Ben Masters) and Christopher; great- grandchildren, Maren and Viggo Masters; nephew, Kai (Ann) Thompson; niece, Kristin (Bill Pearson) Decremer-Pearson; nephew, Kirk (Laurie) Thompson; Graf nephews, Lloyd Jr. (Dorinda), Richard, Thomas (Sally) and David; Paul (Elizabeth), and Matthew. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Truman; brother, Bjorn (Gail) Thompson; parents, Fred and Marie Thompson; and brother-in-law, Lloyd Graf (Kay).

A private family service will be held. Memorials may be made to Attic Angel Foundation and Agrace HospiceCare. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761