The Life of AUSTIN C GRAFTON

Austin "Austie" Grafton, 87, of Stover Heights Retirement Community died of a respiratory ailment Monday at Mercy Medical Center.  Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, of which he was a member.  Burial will be in Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Mr. Grafton had lived in Des Moines all his life.  He was retired from Deere & Co. Des Moines Works and was an Army veteran of World War II.  He enjoyed bowling, fishing and spending time with others.

He is survived by a son, Richard of Des Moines; a daughter, Sharon Stewart of Urbandale; three brothers, Richard of Des Moines, William of DeSoto, and Joe and two sisters, Grace Dolittle and Helen Koski all of Rockaway Beach, MO; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Grandview Park Funeral Home, where a vigil service will be held at 7 p.m.  Memorial contributions may be made to his church.