Michael (Mike) Eugene Graffe, 64, Soap Lake, WA, passed away Friday, March 30, 2012 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, WA, after a 3 year battle with congestive heart failure. Mike, the oldest of four living children, was born May 13, 1947 in Shelton, WA, to Robert & Bernice Graffe. He graduated from Ephrata High School in 1966. Mike married Marilyn June Russell on February 28, 1966 in Coeur d'Alene, Id.

Mike spent 12 ? years serving in the United States Army, with three tours in Germany and one in Vietnam. He was also stationed in California and Oklahoma during his service time. Mike's jobs after getting out of the Army were as varied as he was. He served as the Soap Lake High School Night Janitor from 1980-1996, where all the students were his kids. Working a full-time job was not enough variety for Mike. He also volunteered on the Soap Lake Fire Department from 1988-1996 and was a driver and then an EMT for the Soap Lake Ambulance from 1991-1996. Mike worked for Grant Transit Authority as a driver from 1997-2006 where he knew many of his regular riders by name. A vehicle-pedestrian accident in 2005 put Mike into early retirement.

Mike was preceded in death by his father Robert, his mother Bernice, and a sister Linda. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Marilyn at the home; two daughters Crystal (Glen) James, Soap Lake, WA and Heidi (Kelly) McCarthy, Ephrata, WA; four granddaughters Karissa, Samantha, and Rebecca Wahl, and Sierra Graffe; three grandsons Jesse and Dustin James, and Frank Kelly McCarthy Jr; two brothers Pat Graffe, Moses Lake, WA and Randall (Barbara) Graffe , Ephrata, WA; a sister Marjorie Lehman, Battleground, WA; as well as nieces and nephews.

Mike was loved by all who knew him and he didn't know a stranger. He will be greatly missed by family and friends alike.

An interment Service will be held Friday, April 13, 2012 at 3:00pm at the Washington State Veteran's Memorial Cemetery at Medical Lake, WA.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 2:00pm in the Soap Lake High School Gym .

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.