"Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." — Kahlil Gibran

Lyle Wayne Graf, 78, of Georgetown, Texas, passed away at St. David's Medical Center in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 19, 2020.

He was born on Jan. 6, 1942, in Cumberland, Wisconsin, to Marion Albee Graf and Frank Graf.

After graduation from Shell Lake High School in 1960, where he loved his time in basketball, baseball and football, he attended Wisconsin University LaCrosse, where he earned his education degree in 1964. He then enlisted in the US Peace Corps, where he served in Brazil for two years.

At the end of Peace Corps he set up in California, where he used his education to work in schools, the first to be in Sacramento teaching sixth grade. He ascended from there to a Junior High Principal in Sacramento.

During this principalship, he earned his master’s degree at the California State College in Sacramento. He then became superintendent of schools in Diamond Springs, California, in 1975.

For 12 years he remained in Diamond Springs until a higher salary level became his, at which point he earned his Doctorate in Education.

During his superintendency in Santa Rosa, California, following his marriage to Suzanne Joyce Lemke in Lake Tahoe, 1988, he traveled the state for golf tournaments with other superintendents in the Bay Area.

His last district was the most enjoyed; probably because it had two junior highs and one elementary, wherein his office was located. The primary students visited him each day, brought him presents which he shared with them, and wanted to make his office table their "desks."

It was a joyful end to his career, and he had smiling memories from Upper Lake Union Elementary District.

He and Suzanne both retired from education in 2001, when they moved their location to Georgetown, Texas, where they had 19 more happy years with his family, golf, concerts, world travel and Texas friendships.

Wayne is survived by his loving wife, Suzanne; sister, Barbara Hammes of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; brother, Frank Graf Jr.; and his surviving children, two adopted sons, Matthew Michand and his wife, Katherine, of Pflugerville, Texas, Andrew Michel of Austin, Texas; and one daughter, Anita Valoy, of Ithaca, New York. Wayne also adored his two grandchildren, Devin Michand and Abigail Michand.