John "Sonny" E. Graupe

John “Sonny” E. Graupe, Jr., 78, of rural Cashton, passed away peacefully Saturday July 31, 2021 surrounded by his family. He was born November 4, 1942 in Viroqua to John and Esther (Mickelson) Graupe, Sr. He was baptized and confirmed at the Coon Valley Lutheran Church.  He married Gloria Brendum on May 1, 1971 at Westby Coon Prairie Lutheran Church.  Sonny farmed most of his life on the Graupe home farm and throughout the years also worked at FS in Westby, Gateway/Fleming Foods in La Crosse and IHT (Industrial Heat Transfer) in Coon Valley. He was a member of the Coon Valley Conservation Club, the NRA and the Westby Rod and Gun Club.  He loved to go camping and fishing with his wife and always couldn’t wait until the yearly deer hunting trip to spend it at the shack with his daughters and eventually adding in his grandchildren. Sonny was loved by everyone who met him, his family was his number one priority and his grandchildren were his pride and joy.

Survivors include his wife, Gloria; 3 daughters, Julie (Dan) Nerison, Janine (Troy) Morey and Jennifer (Wade) Johnson; 7 grandchildren, Hailey Nerison, Mackenzie and Madeline Morey, Jayden, Jaxson, Annika and Ashton Johnson; 2 aunts, Erma Graupe and Shirley Mickelson; 2 uncles, Donald (Doris) Mickelson and Ronnie (Yvonne) Mickelson; a brother-in-law, Marvin Brendum and his children; his dog, Bailey and many other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; uncles, Kenneth Graupe, Elmer (Delores) Mickelson, Raymond Mickelson and Norman (Elaine) Mickelson; an aunt, Bertha (Clarence) Gilbeck and special cousin Dennis Graupe.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday August 5, 2021 at the Seland Funeral Home in Coon Valley. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until service time. Rev. Julie Wollman will officiate with burial in the Coon Valley Lutheran Cemetery.  Condolences may be given at selandsfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

All are also welcome to a celebration of life on Saturday August 7 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the home farm campground on County X.

A special thank you to Gundersen Hospice, especially Jason Mowery for his excellent care.