Roxbury Township, Mr. Robert “Bob” H. DeGraaff, 78, died on July 12, 2015 at his home with his family by his side. He was born in Jersey City to Harry and Frieda (Haas) DeGraaff and, after the death of his mother when he was 11, grew up in Secaucus raised by Louis and Anna Stenken. He served in the U S Navy and then studied at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He and his family moved to Roxbury Township 43 years ago. He began his career working for many toy and invention companies including Mattel, Hasbro, and Kohner Brothers. Later he became a self employed master inventor, model maker and furniture builder, and sole prporietor of Proto Design & Engineering. He was a member of St. Therese R C Church in Succasunna, the Roxbury Rotary Club where he received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, and the Secaucus Masonic Lodge F & A M. His many hobbies included woodworking, painting and gardening with his father-in-law, the late Adam Mikol.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy (Mikol) of 57 years, 2 daughters: Doreen (and Kevin) Markferding of Florham Park and Denise (and Todd) Abney of Succasunna. He also leaves his 4 grandchildren; Christopher (and Kristen) Markferding, Kathryn Markferding, Nicholas Markferding, and Allison Abney, a great-grandson Dylon Markferding, and sister Diane Fugel of Montrose, Pennsylvania and her family.
Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com) on Friday from 3 – 5 & 7 – 9 pm. The Funeral Liturgy will be held on Saturday, 10 am at St. Therese R C Church, Main St, Succasunna, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either St. Therese RC Church or St. Barnabas Hospice.