Anne Rose Graves

Anne Rose Graves, age 90, of Munising, died while surrounded by her boys and under the loving care of the staff at Tendercare Health Center early Wednesday evening, August 26, 2015 at Tendercare in Munising. She was born on February 2, 1925 in Shingleton to Joseph and Mary Rose (Hammabauer) Dolaski. Anne grew up in Shingleton and graduated from Wm. G. Mather High in 1943. During WWII, she worked at Willow Run on the left wing of the B-24 Liberator and became so adept at her job that they promoted her to making panels in the factory. Anne came home after the War and she worked hard throughout her life. She enjoyed her work, but she mostly enjoyed the company of the co-workers and customers she served. Anne worked at the Munising Woodenware, Kimberly Clark, Chevy's News, Putvins, Ben Franklin, Hal Raikko Insurance, Mazzali Insurance, Dogpatch, Munising Memorial Hospital, and the People's Store. Anne married Richard "Hawkeye" Graves on April 13, 1957 and together they raised their three sons. Anne was proud of her boys. She was a wonderful and gifted cook and baker. Anne could take the simplest ingredients and turn them into a feast that would feed not only her family, but their friends and the neighborhood. No one could make a pie, soup, or pancakes like Anne could (one of her secrets was the love she had for real butter.) She enjoyed Tiger games, sewing, bowling, and taking Sunday rides in the woods with Rich. Anne was the great protector of animals and wildlife. Every dog in the neighborhood would abandon their owners in search of Anne's house for treats. At dinnertime, the family dog would eat the same meals on the same dishes that the family did. On their rides, Hawkeye would get out of the car to shoot a partridge and Anne would beep the horn to scare off the birds. When he would complain, she would tell him that they didn't need any more birds, and they should just keep riding. Rich preceded Anne in death on October 23, 2000 after over forty-three years of marriage.

In 2004, Anne had a surgery to remove a benign tumor and she ended up spending the rest of her life in a wheel chair. She moved into Tendercare and following a brief adjustment period, she began that new chapter in her life. Anne made Tendercare her home and some affectionately called her "The Godmother" of Tendercare. Anne knew all. She even had her own barter system where she would barter "smuggled" chocolates for whatever she desired. She made friends with the staff and residents, and they became her family. The staff became "Anne's Angels." While at Tendercare, she continued to sew and made hundreds of pillows for people. She would mend and alter clothes for family and friends. Anne had a wonderful sense of humor and appreciated the simplest things. If a gift was given with love, it became an instant treasure in her heart. The people that were fortunate enough to know and love Anne are better people because of her. She will be forever missed.

She is survived by her sons - Paul Graves of Munising and Sturgeon Bay, WI, Rick (Beth) Graves of Spring Grove, IL, and Alan Graves of Munising; grandchildren - Trisha (Marty), Shelbie (Jeremy), Jordan (Wendy), Chelsie, Ryan, Connor, and Colton; great-grandchildren - Cameron, Alaina, Cole, and Arianna; numerous nieces and nephews; and her "adopted" sons - Billy Ramsey and Kerry Way. Anne was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter-in-law Amy Graves, siblings Helen Dolaski, Paul Dolaski, Josephine Blank, and Dorothy Henriksen.

Visitation will be at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Anne's funeral service will be conducted by Pastor Jason LaFlamme at the Munising Baptist Church in Wetmore on Sunday, August 30, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. Anne will be escorted by Jordan, Connor, and Colton Graves, Billy Ramsey, Kerry Way, and Steve Sharkey. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery.