EVELYN GERTRUDE HEINEN MEYER (19021995)

On October 9, 1926, she married Eugene Paul Meyer, and they had three children: Marion Agnes Meyer Thompson (March 6, 1930), Marjorie Evelyn Meyer Halvorson (July 5, 1933), and Mildred Ellen Meyer Boaz (July 2, 1938). She lived on the South Side of Milwaukee in the family home at 1033 South 29th Street until her death February 5, 1995. She is buried in Arlington Cemetery, Milwaukee.

The following genealogy traces family relationships from Lorenz Graf (18241911) through the male line to Amalia Graf Heinen (18761966). The information included here is largely drawn from written records handed down within the family.

John soon found a partner in Philip Madlener. Their plant was located at 330 Grove (later 800 South 5th Street). The plant originally employed but four people. Four years later, the business amounted to $15,000 a year and employed twelve men. Graf and Madlener made their own malt extracts and the extracts used for their white, cherry, and raspberry sodas and their root beer, sasparilla, and lemonlime soda. By 1909 the plant employed sixty employees, and its product was valued at $120,000 per year. It required fourteen teams and wagons in constant use to transport the product to their customers.

The business eventually outgrew its location. In the 1920s he selected the site at South 40th Street and West Greenfield Avenue. In 1968 Laurie O. Graf, President and third generation member of the family to head the firm, led Graf Beverages, Inc. to become a wholly owned subsidiary of P & V Atlas Industrial Center, Inc. At that time in addition to its line of soft drinks including root beer and 50/50, Graf's produced Dr. Pepper, Squirt, Royal Crown Cola, Diet Rite Cola, and Schweppes tonics under franchise arrangements. Graf’s was among the pioneers in a number of developments in the soft-drink industry, including the introduction of quart-size containers, the production of flat top rather than cone top cans, the creation of sugar-free sodas, and the development of twist-off resealable caps on non-returnable bottles. In the 1980s the property was sold and is now occupied by a modern Sentry Super Market Store and parking lot. Canfield, an Illinois firm, in 1985 purchased the John Graf softdrink recipes, and by popular demand the public is able to purchase their favorite (labeled) John Graf soda water.

He was married in 1873 to Anna Bertha Gleisberg (born February 24, 1851, Mequon, Wisconsin), daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Gleisberg; Mr. Gleisberg, born Kulenberg, Saxony, Germany, was a pioneer of Ozaukee county Wisconsin, settling there in 1848). There were six children from this marriage: Edward J. (November 2, 1872March, 1948) who married Bertha Reinhardt, Amalia Margaretha Louise (18761966) who married Herman Heinen (1874-1960), Amanda (December 28, 18791935) who married Alfred Pellman, Anna (March 24, 1882September 11, 1976) who married John Murphy, Clara (March 20, 1886February 12, 1960) who married Clifford Loew (1879-1927) and later Bo Carter, and John II (May 31, 1886May 30, 1929) who married Bertha Boerner and later Sylvia Schaeffer. Mr. Graf belonged to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the E.S.O.S. Club, the Knights of Pythias, the South Side Turners, and the Calumet Club. He was independent in political views, voting for the candidates who seemed to him best fitted for the office.

John Graf died May 15, 1930. His wife, Anna, died on November 5, 1913. They are buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee.

Clara (18851960) married Clifford Loew (18791927), and they had three children: Clifford, Jr.; Florence Anderson, and Marjorie Merideth Tans. Lyle and Marjorie Tans had three children: James, John, and William. Clara, Clifford, Sr., and Clifford, Jr., are buried in Arlington Cemetery, Milwaukee.

John II married Sylvia Schaeffer. He worked in the Graf soda company and enjoyed singing. He is also buried in the John Graf plot in Forest Home Cemetery, Milwaukee. Sylvia Graf, who died January 2, 1963, aged 71 years, and her son, John Graf III who married Pearl Braun, are buried in Holy Cross Cemetery. The other son of John II and Sylvia, Lawrence O. who married Elaine Jeffers, is still living. Two other cousins are buried in the Forest Home Graf plot: John G. Pellman, Jr. (18971911) and Alfred Pellman, Jr. (September 6, 1900October 8, 1926). It was days after her wedding that Evelyn Gertrude Heinen Meyer played for her cousin Alfred's funeral.

AMALIA GRAF HEINEN (18761966)
Amalia Margaretha Louise was the eldest daughter of John W. and Anna Gleisberg Graf. She was born on May 1, 1876. She married Herman Heinen (18741960) on June 14, 1900, and they had five daughters: Gertrude (March 2, 1901-August 5, 1902), Evelyn Gertrude (December 24, 1902-February 5, 1995), Mildred Alice (January 2, 1904-February 18, 1998), Lorraine (Lolly) Claire (May 1, 1907August 15, 1968), and Anne Ethel (April 22, 1909- ). Each daughter was musically inclined. At an early age, each daughter took piano lessons, individually, from a professional piano teacher, Ms. Clara Boase, who resided in the neighborhood. By ten years of age each had a sufficient background of music to choose an instrument. Evelyn continued piano; Mildred chose violin; Lorraine, saxophone; and Anne, violin. Soon, they formed the Heinen quartet, and entertained upon request at various local functions. Mildred also played with the South Division High School orchestra (192022). Later, Evelyn continued with piano and organ lessons. Mildred took violin lessons at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music with Ms. Roberta Bost and voice lessons with Ms. Elsa Bloedel. She sang with the Milwaukee Opera Company, the Lutheran A Cappella Chorus, and the Faith Lutheran Church Choir, many times as soloist.

Each daughter graduated from the Milwaukee Normal School KindergartenPrimary Department and taught in the Milwaukee public and suburban schools. Each also continued to study in her field, attaining advanced degrees: Evelyn, a Master's degree in music; Mildred, a B.A. from Mount Mary College and an M.E. from Marquette; Lorraine, a B.A. from Mount Mary College; and Anne, a Bachelor's degree in Education and the Master's equivalent from Milwaukee State Teacher's College. All had teaching careers: Evelyn J(192330), kindergarten teacher in Milwaukee; Mildred (192469), primary department in Milwaukee; Lorraine (192868), a kindergarten teacher in Wauwatosa; and Anne (193077), kindergarten in Milwaukee.

Amalia (Molly), enjoyed music and could play the piano by ear. She attended the AmericanGerman Academy in her late teens. She died on May 31, 1966, and is buried in Arlington Cemetery, Milwaukee.

Anne married Irve Zink (September 12, 1908July 9, 1985) and had two children: Jeffrey and Meredith.