A History of Generosity

Edward Grafe, 94, survived the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. After the war he built a successful insurance business in San Diego, retiring in the 1980s. From CUI’s founding as Christ College in the 1970s, Grafe has been a generous financial supporter and established a scholarship for students with plans to become pastors or teachers.

“The world needs the people that are graduating from there,” Grafe says from his home in Tucson. “I want more Lutherans on the battlefield.”

Grafe is the oldest of nine children, five of whom are living. He was aboard the USS Rigel, a repair ship moored across from Battleship Row, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Grafe was “on the fantail getting ready to raise the flag at 8 o’clock when the first zeroes came over. Suddenly someone recognized them and we all headed for cover.”

The enemy planes flew over the Rigel to get to the battleships.

“They started dropping the bombs and torpedoes fore and aft and we got some shrapnel but were otherwise unharmed,” Grafe says. “It was a harrowing experience, believe me, and I don’t want to go through it again.”

[At Pearl Harbor] they started dropping bombs fore and aft and we got some shrapnel but were otherwise unharmed. It was a harrowing experience.

Grafe and his fellow sailors went out rescuing men who were floating in the water, which was burning because of the spilled oil.

“It was over quickly as far as we were concerned,” he says. “The Japanese came, dropped their bombs and left. If they’d sent in a second group they would have really mopped up. We watched the USS Arizona flip.”

In the years following that day, Grafe became a warrant officer and an aide for a chief supply officer to Admiral Halsey — “a good place to be because we knew what was going on all over the war.” He was also there for the first landings on Guadalcanal.

Grafe retired in 1960 at the top rank of chief petty officer - chief warrant officer, fourth tier. Then he started an insurance agency in San Diego, serving military men and women. The agency did very well and in 1985 Grafe retired and gave the business to the men who worked for him.

Grafe became a generous supporter of Concordia at its founding and was among the first donors to the fledgling Lutheran institution. When his wife Lorraine died he set up a scholarship fund which is now approaching $500,000. He adds $30,000 a year and has left a bequest of more than $2 million to CUI.

“God has been good to me,” Grafe says. “My will leaves my estate to Concordia where it’ll do the most good.”

Last year, Grafe’s scholarship supported Steven Pruhs ’13 who graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in theology and a minor in biblical languages. Pruhs is now attending Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

“I really appreciate Mr. Grafe’s generosity,” Pruhs says. “Without the scholarship there would have been no way I could have attended Concordia Irvine. I want to be active in ministry and the church. I really appreciate someone helping me.”

Pruhs is now studying to be a worship pastor who adds theological depth in a contemporary worship environment.

“I think it’s something I could do well, and with the education I received from Concordia Irvine and the seminary I hope to be well equipped,” he says.

As for Grafe, generosity is a way to end well. “I’ve had a very good life,” Grafe says. “I’m 94 years old. I do as I please. I still drive. I have everything I need.”

He would like his ashes to be buried at Pearl Harbor.