John Phillipp Graf, who was the second-longest serving publisher of the Galesville Republican, died Friday, June 5, at his home in Galesville. He was 69.
Graf was born October 22, 1950, to Philipp and Anna (Pfister) Graf, who lived near Hokah, Minn. He grew up near Appleton and graduated in 1968 from Hortonville High School. In 1972, Graf earned his degree in mass communications from UW-Stevens Point.
Graf married Lois Hoftizer in Madison on May 5, 1979. They had six children — Beth, Susanne, Philipp, Martha, Lydia and Markus — and seven grandchildren.
A Golden Member of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, newspapering was Graf’s lifelong career. He worked in a variety of roles, including as a reporter, photographer, typesetter, proofreader, graphic designer, publisher and owner.
After a three year stint in Uetendorf, Switzerland — his mother’s home village — Graf returned to the U.S. in 1985 and purchased the Galesville Republican weekly newspaper. He served as owner and publisher for 25 years, and during that time the Republican was one of the first newspapers in the state to use desktop computer publishing.
Graf had a passion for providing local news to the Galesville, Ettrick and Trempealeau communities and was actively involved in the Galesville Chamber of Commerce, serving several terms as president. He sold the newspaper in 2011 to News Publishing Co., which merged it with the Whitehall Times and Arcadia News-Leader to form the Trempealeau County Times.
After retirement, Graf served six years as Galesville’s mayor.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at Coulee Life Church in Onalaska. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, June 19.
