David Arthur Graham

David Arthur Graham died early in the morning on October 27 at a long-term care facility in Burr Ridge, Illinois from complications related to Frontotemporal Dementia. Nancy Ellen Graham (née Tinker), his wife of 43 years, was with him when he passed.

Dave was born March 11, 1956 to Douglas Gordon Graham and Mildred Anne Graham (née Thompson) in Joliet, Ill. He was the third born of four boys. Dave was kind, outgoing and made many childhood friends, most of which remained with him throughout his life.

He graduated from Joliet West High School in 1974 before attending Joliet Junior College, where his father was a professor and administrator, and earned a bachelor's degree at Northern Illinois University in 1978 with the intention of being an educator like his parents. He started his career teaching science at Wilmington Middle School.

Dave's life changed forever on September 29, 1979 when he met Nancy. He and his brother Rick were performing the Beatles song "Two of Us" at Brian and Ellen Braun's wedding when he caught Nancy's eye for the first time. All the NIU people were seated at the same table (Though they'd both attended NIU, the two hadn't crossed paths) and the pair ended up dancing together that night. The next day he gave her a call and soon they were on their first date at a frisbee golf course (his idea, obviously). The two were married August 7, 1982 in her hometown Macomb, Ill.

After a few years, Dave left teaching but continued using those skills for around 10 years at Wang Computers teaching people how to use word processors. He then worked in IT support and training for CNA Insurance at the big red building in the Loop. Once his department was outsourced, he took on temporary IT support roles for other companies. His final job was delivering medicine and medical devices for IV Solutions, his lifelong friend Bill Honiotes' company.

Dave and Nancy bought their first house together in 1983 in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. They moved a little further north to their second house in the Edgewater neighborhood in 1988. They welcomed their son Douglas Tinker Graham to the world in 1990. In 1992 the family moved to Brookfield in the western suburbs and the next year daughter Lise Marian Graham was born (the only home birth Nancy, who spent her career as a certified nurse midwife, ever attended). In 2002 they moved a final time to the nearby suburb of La Grange Park, just one block away from his eldest brother Paul Graham.

Dave's passions were his family and music. In the mid-90s he asked to take the 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. shift so he could get home in time to take care of the kids when they got out of school. And once the kids were happy and accounted for he would usually pick up one of his many guitars, sit somewhere comfortable and play it. Practically every summer from the mid-90s until his health declined he and the family vacationed at the same resort, Crystal Waters in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, along with the families of two of his lifelong friends Don Lutz and Tom Butts.

He was in many bands over the course of his life. The first group was Kentucky Wondergrass, which he formed in 1978 with Bill Honiotes, Jim Honiotes, John Honiotes and Mike Baron. They jokingly billed themselves as Joliet's finest authentic mountain bluegrass band, when they were actually merely Joliet's only bluegrass band. In the 1980s he performed in his first Rock n' Roll group Lovesick.

In 1998 he formed the Salt Creek Boys with Mark Sramek and Ken Krull. Nearly every Friday night for the next several years all three men's families would gather at the Graham house in Brookfield for band practice. The men would play on the front porch while their wives would spend time together while keeping an eye on their many children as they swam in the pool, ran around the backyard, or played video games in the basement.

Other bands he took part in include The Unbroken Circle, which was comprised of fellow members of the First United Methodist Church congregation. Later on, he was in a band called The Country Gentlemen. He also lent his strong tenor voice to the West Suburban Symphony Choir over the years.

Whether he had a band or not Dave was always making music with his friends and family. In the 2010s, Dave hosted jam sessions in his garage (and even had custom T-shirts made for the occasion). He and Mark co-hosted a regular Open Mic night at Joe's Saloon in Brookfield. Throughout his life he gladly spent time teaching many people to play the guitar, always free of charge.

As early as 2021 Dave started exhibiting symptoms of Frontotemporal Dementia, an adult-onset brain disorder which affects the areas of the brain associated with personality, behavior and language. There are many varieties of FTD that have their own host of symptoms. For Dave it meant over time he lost his ability to make decisions, control his impulses and eventually speak. He never forgot who his friends and family were and was always happy to spend time with loved ones.

In April 2024, Dave was moved to Harvester Place, a long-term care facility in Burr Ridge. He and his family received excellent care from their dedicated staff of nurses and caregivers. Dave was particularly popular at the facility for his cheerful demeanor and because he and his band The Country Gentlemen would put on the occasional show for everyone.

In March 2025, Dave fell in his room and broke his hip. The fall seemed to accelerate his cognitive decline and he never regained his ability to walk. But he continued playing his guitar and ukulele right up until near the end of his life even if he no longer sang along.

Dave is survived by his wife Nancy, his son Doug, his daughter-in-law Madelyn Elaine Srajer, and his daughter Lise. He is also survived by his older brothers Paul Graham (Linda) and Pete Graham (Beth) as well as his younger brother Rick Graham (Kathy). He is preceded in death by his parents Douglas Gordon Graham & Mildred Anne Thompson. He is also preceded in death by many cherished pets including childhood cats Pancake, Midnight and Hebrew (nicknamed Heebee) and childhood dogs Loki, Skade and Tycho. The dogs he loved, cared for and outlived as an adult include Maggie, a Cocker Spaniel; Busby, a Boxer; Lily, a Sealyham Terrier; and Jocko, a Boxer. His third beloved Boxer named Buzzie lives on.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

Friends and Family are invited to attend a Memorial Service in his honor. It is being planned for the upcoming months possibly Early December or early January weeks . Please check back in a week for further updates so you can save the date.

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