Philip Graham

Philip “Phil” Graham, 78, of Tigerton, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2015, at the Shawano Medical Center. Philip Lester Graham was born on March 21, 1937, in the town of Morris, Shawano County, to Robert and Bertha (Jensen) Graham. He was raised and attended school in the Tigerton area. Phil was united in marriage on Oct. 17, 1959, to Norene L. Meyer in Wausau. The couple lived for a short time in the Bowler and Iola areas until returning home to Tigerton. In Phil’s early years, the couple dairy farmed for several years, and he started working at FWD Corporation in Clintonville. He was employed at FWD as an electrician wiring trucks for over 35 years. For eight years he also owned and operated Phil’s Auto Repair out of his home garage. In 2008 the couple started the Main Street Diner, and later on he built the bar and began Graham’s Hideaway, both in the Tigerton mini-mall building. Even though he only “supervised” at the diner or the tavern, he was always busy fixing or doing something; he just couldn’t sit still for too long. Phil was a former member of St. John Lutheran Church, Tigerton. He enjoyed playing on a local pool league, working on old cars and going to the Iola Car Show as often as he could. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Norene; and four children, Randy (Julia) Graham, of Tigerton, Julie (friend Brian) Graham, of Marion, Debbie (Mark) Dedolph, of Tigerton, and Rick (Andrea) Graham, of Tigerton. There are nine grandchildren, Josh (friend Jen) Graham, Jake (fiancée Terri) Graham, Jenny (Jason) Wesolowski, Stephanie (friend Jason) Dedolph, Matt (fiancée Nikki) Dedolph, Donte Graham, Robert Graham, Ryder Graham and Deryck Graham. There are two great-grandchildren, Ezra Wesolowski and Mackenzie Ratliff. There are three siblings, Edward Graham, of Wittenberg, Dorothy (Butch) Wedde, of Gresham, and Lillian “Ann” Bessette, of Clintonville. He is further survived by a brother-in-law, Gary (Donna) Meyer, of Ringle, and two sisters-in-law, Pam Meyer, of Hatley, and Patti Meyer, of Schofield; and many other relatives and friends. Phil was preceded in death by his parents; an infant baby boy; a teenage son, Robbie; a brother-in-law, Leo Bessette; and a nephew, Tom Wedde. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 28, at noon at the Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Tigerton, with the Rev. Clifford Kessen officiating. Friends may call on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Honorary pallbearers are Josh Graham, Jake Graham, Matt Dedolph, Donte Graham, Robert Graham and Dave Johnson. Online condolences may be sent via www.beil-didier.com.