Marie K. Graffis, 86, of Northfield, formerly of Evanston, died very unexpectedly in her sleep at home, September 8. Born April 14, 1915 in Faribault, MN to Paul E. and Amanda Klopsteg, nee Toedt. She attended Evanston HS and graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in sociology, with a special interest in Native American culture. As a young woman she excelled in archery and taught the sport to others. Her father, a professor of physics at Northwestern, found her enthusiasm for the sport to be contagious that he went on to become an international expert in the history and physics of archery. She worked at Chandlers bookstore in Evanston as well as Northwestern during WW II. She married Joseph Graffis in 1949, and they had three children. She was a devoted mother giving much and asking for little. All three children inherited a genetic disorder called Ushers Syndrome which causes hearing loss and progressive blindness. As a result she helped pioneer efforts to legislate special education for public school students, and she belonged to the foundation fighting blindness, the Council for Disability Rights and various other related causes. Marie pursued advanced academic and civic studies up to the time of her death as she was a member of the Klopsteg Lecture Series Committee at Northwestern. She was senior member of the League of Women Voters, belonged to Unifem, Kappa Alpha Theta, several nature and land use conservation organizations and the Mitchell Indian Museum. Devoted mother of Mark of St. Croix, VI, Robert of Boulder, CO and Anne (Dr. Charles) Baynton of Farmington, ME; proud grandmother of Michael Baynton; dear sister of Ruth Reed of Seal Beach, CA; caring cousin of Mary Martha Healey and Helen Smith; was preceded in death by her sister, Irma and her parents. Graveside service pending. For funeral and memorial information call Donnellan Family Funeral Services, 847-675-1990
