Graeter
Funeral services for William “Billy” Otto Graeter, 85 of Fayetteville, were held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fayetteville with Pastor Jen Kindsvatter officiating. Burial followed in the Shelby Cemetery in Shelby. Visitation was held on Thursday, July 11, 2024 from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings and from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fayetteville.
William Otto Graeter, age 85, of Fayetteville, joined his heavenly family on July 6, 2024. He was born to Erwin J. Graeter, Sr. and Martha Schulke Brokmeyer on Nov. 10, 1938. William never met a stranger, and was known to most as “Billy Graeter from Fayetteville.”
William graduated from Fayetteville High School and immediately enlisted in the Army in 1957. On Jan. 10, 1960, he married Rosalie Andreas of Eagle Lake. They honeymooned in Oklahoma, where William was stationed. They moved to El Campo after his time in the service, where he was a mechanic for Mustang Caterpillar, and he and Rose began their family. They then moved to Fayetteville and set up shop with Graeter Motor Company. William became the mayor of the City of Fayetteville at age 26 and was mayor for 30+ years.
The Masonic Lodge was a very important part of William’s life. He began his degree work for the lodge in January, 1960 and was raised to a Master Mason on April 13, 1960. He has been a member of the Fayetteville Masonic Lodge No. 240 since then. He has held various offices in the Fayetteville Lodge and was District Deputy Grand Master of District 33 from Dec. 3, 1977 to Dec. 2, 1978. He received the Golden Trowel Award on June 23, 1998, his 50-Year Service Award on April 8, 2010, and his 60-year service award on Jan. 3, 2020. In addition to the Masonic Lodge, he was also an active member of the Colorado Valley Shrine Club.
William was a devoted and active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fayetteville. He was faithful to turning on the AC when on his Sunday morning walk and setting up communion for the service.
William is preceded in death by his father, Erwin J. Graeter, Sr.; mother, Martha Brokmeyer; infant, brother Erwin J. Graeter, Jr.; son-inlaw, Truman Hargrove, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Donna Graeter.
He is survived by his wife, Rosalie: children, Jeffrey Graeter (and wife Eileen), Stephen Graeter, June Hargrove (and friend Paul Ashmore), and Kristen Holub (and husband Brent). He has two grandsons, Joshua and Jake Hargrove, and several greatgrandchildren.
Serving as pallbearers were Stephen Graeter, Jeff Graeter, Joshua Hargrove, Jake Hargrove, Brent Holub, and FJ Krenek III.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Building Fund in Fayetteville.
Funeral arrangements wereentrusted to Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings.