K. E. “Gene” McGraw

K.E. “Gene” McGraw, 88, died at his home in East Lansing on Dec. 9, 2020. Gene was born on March 14, 1932 in Ft. Wayne, Ind. to Rose and Kenneth McGraw. He married Mary Elizabeth Filkins at the Jackson Methodist Church on Sept. 12, 1959.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mary, who died Dec. 23, 2017. Also preceding him was a brother, the Rev. James R. McGraw.

Surviving are a son Scott (Marcia) of Portage; a daughter Shanna (Bill) Mikolic of Dimondale; five grandchildren: Darrell and Daniel Bryant, Taylor, Josh, and Sarah McGraw, a sister-in-law Kathleen Saterlee of Coldwater, a niece Laurie (Steve) McEnroe of Seymore, Ind., and a grand nephew Patrick McEnroe.

Gene graduated from South Side High School in Ft. Wayne, Purdue University (Bachelor’s), and Michigan State University (MBA). He was a Registered Professional Engineer. He served in the US Army at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey and Governors Island, New York. He worked for Consumers Energy for 35 years starting as a graduate engineer and retiring as Vice President of Customer Service and Marketing. During his career, he served in regional offices in Jackson, Saginaw, Pontiac and Kalamazoo.

He was very active in community service in all the communities he lived, most notably General Campaign Chairman in two United Way campaigns, United Way president in Kalamazoo, Distinguish Service Award in Saginaw, served 15 years on the Jackson-Lenawee-Hillsdale Community Action Agency board, and was a member of the Kalamazoo Outlook Club and Rotary.

Gene and Mary were also active in the Republican Party, where he served on the Executive Committee in three communities and twice served on the State Committee. One of his most proud achievements was chairing the Republican State Convention in Kalamazoo in 1986.

He was a lifelong Methodist and served on many committees including Pony Express chairman twice. In retirement, he worked for Jackson Community College as an administrator for School-to-Work and as executive director for the Community College Association for Technology Transfer.

He was honored to serve for six years as a Jackson County Commissioner, two years as chairman.

Gene liked sports particularly following his alma maters (Purdue and MSU) and watching his kids and grandkids participate. He was an avid bird-watcher starting with his years in the Boy Scouts.

He loved his cottage on the shores of Lake Missaukee in Lake City, Mich., and spent as much time there as he could. In retirement, he and Mary traveled particularly to the Caribbean where they visited 19 different islands.

There will be a private burial service on Thursday, Dec. 17 at Highland Cemetery in Columbia Township. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Elara Hospice (www.elara.com) or Asbury United Methodist Church (asburylansing.org)