Michael Graham, 73, who grew up in Albert Lea, died July 14, 2015. Mike, son of Bert and Aquinata (Cookie) Graham, attended St. Theodore’s and St. Mary’s schools before graduating from Albert Lea High School in 1959. While in high school he was active in choir and journalism. As a child he was a history buff, an enthusiastic supporter of civic music and an avid fan and loyal follower of Albert Lea Packers baseball, the Milwaukee Braves and all high school sports.

After attending Mankato State, he enlisted in the Army and served in Germany. He completed his bachelor’s degree at Winona State after his discharge and returned to Albert Lea to work at the packing house while waiting for a civil service job to open up. In 1971, he moved to the St. Paul area and worked for the Department of Labor as director of veterans employment and training for Minnesota until his retirement in 2005.

He and his wife, Kathleen Neubert Graham, had three children, Joshua, Erin and Christopher. Joshua, who had multiple special needs, died at 4. Mike’s parents and all of his parents’ siblings also preceded him in death.

Survivors include Kathleen; his daughter, Erin, and her husband, Wayne, and their two children; his son, Chris; sisters Joan Claire and Ann; four nieces; a nephew; a grand-nephew; and his second wife, JoAnn. Funeral services took place Aug. 10 at St. Olaf Church in Minneapolis and interment was at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.