KINGSBURY GRAFF “KING” HEIPLE, II age 69, beloved husband for 37 years of Holly (nee Frazier); devoted and loving father of Cynthia; cherished son of the late Kingsbury Graff, Sr. and Helen (nee Haberle); dearest brother of Jeanne Heiple, Holly D. Heiple, and Caroline Heiple Sokol; dear uncle, brother-in-law and friend of many.
King was born in Chicago on February 1, 1952 and passed away unexpectedly on September 7, 2021. He grew up in Cleveland Heights, graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1970 and went on to get his Electrical Engineering degree at Cleveland State University and his MBA from Case Western Reserve University. He met his wife, Holly Frazier Heiple when they were both working in an engineering lab together early in their education and they married in 1984 and settled in Chagrin Falls, where their daughter Cindy was born in 1991.
Self-employed as an Engineering Consultant and entrepreneur, he was a devoted husband, father, brother and uncle. His wife Holly was his indispensable other half and his daughter Cindy was the light of his life. He was deeply engaged in his daughter’s education and she credits him with bolstering her confidence and sense of self and launching her into life. The three of them shared a sensibility, warmth, quick wit and closeness to be envied by any family.
King loved to travel, cook, eat and host dinners for friends and family, especially at holidays, and always managed to come up with unusual and beautiful gifts for those close to him. He was smart, funny, inquisitive, stubborn and a great story-teller. He always fought for the underdog and was endlessly interested in everyone and everything, especially all things mathematical and scientific. Condolences have poured in even from his daughter’s and sisters’ friends who felt adopted by him into the family.
King was a fearless risk-taker in many ways throughout his life, with a passion for sky-diving in his younger years. He was also a cat-lover from early on and many much-adored cats passed through his life. A few weeks ago, he was remarking that he felt he had already used up at least 8 of his 9 cat-lives. After his cancer diagnosis in 2008, we all felt privileged that the ninth one lasted so long. He is survived by his wife Holly, his daughter Cindy, his sisters Jeanne, Holly and Caroline, four nephews, one niece, two great-nephews and four great-nieces. He is missed terribly by all those who loved him.
In lieu of flowers, contributions suggested in memory of King to the American Cancer Society. Celebration of Life Service FRIDAY, September 17, 2021 at 7 PM at THE FUNERAL HOME. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of King at THE DeJOHN FUNERAL HOME & CELEBRATIONS CENTER OF CHESTERLAND 12811 CHILLICOTHE ROAD (Rt. 306, just south of Mayfield Rd.) FRIDAY 5 PM UNTIL SERVICE TIME. (FAMILY REQUESTS MASKS BE WORN)
Charity Name: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY- MIDWEST DIVISION
Charity EIN: 131788491
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Susanne Niemitz-Bolle
When I met King for the first time on July 4th, 2016, I had been invited to his and Holly’s house in Hamburg, Germany. I was a colleague of Holly at Philips at the time.
Later that year, Holly and King invited my to move in with them into one of their spare rooms for the last three months of my project.
We became friends and very quickly I was welcomed and treated like a family member.
After I left Hamburg for a new project in January 2017, we stayed in touch. I came back to my friends and ‘my room’ at their place for several visits. Every time I met King, it was to have good company and enjoy talks about food, cooking, language, jigsaw puzzles and share news about both Cynthia and my son.
On one of these occasions I joined King for a Pink Floyd concert in Hamburg. I loved to have dinners with him and Holly. It always felt good to meet King.
When I was in Hamburg, we often shared the work in the kitchen. King did the cooking, I did the dishes. And the three of us enjoyed the food, the talks, watching some TV shows, and each other’s company.
We had to part when in March 2020 the Heiples moved back home when contacts were already restricted by Covid regulations. These restrictions also prevented me from visiting my friends and thus from meeting King again.
During a video call on Sunday, Sept. 5, I saw King for the last time. He seemed to be in very good mood, looked vivid and healthy, and was looking forward to enjoy retirement together with Holly.
It was unbelievable and devastating to read that he died so unexpectedly only two days later.
I will always remember him as an open-minded and warm-hearted friend, the caring husband of Holly, the proud father of Cindy, a gracious and intelligent man, a well-known customer at his preferred farmer’s market and a passionate cook. He leaves a big empty space in my life that cannot be filled again. I am grateful that I got the chance to know King as a friend and proud that he took me into his heart.
Holly, I hope that with the time going by you and Cynthia will find comfort and strength in the warmth and caring of friends and family.
My heart is filled with sorrow and my loving thoughts embrace you. I am thinking of you and I am sorry that I cannot be there during this difficult time. I cannot make your pain go away, but please know I am here for you with a virtual shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen with, or anything else you may need.
With deepest sympathy and heartfelt condolences, also in the name of my son Eike.
Yours
Susanne
Caroline Sokol
Thank you. Your heartfelt sympathy and stories of connection to my brother King were so great to read. I so appreciate you putting words to our shared grief snd loss.
His little sister Caroline.
Susanne
Caroline, it is good to know that having shared my grief means something to you and the family. Under normal circumstances I would have been there with and for you. Covid did not allow for this.
I hope that we will be able to meet when I finally will come to Cleveland.
Sherry and Ed Machado
So sorry for your loss, praying for the family.
Ed and Sherry Machado
Caroline Sokol
Thank you so very much. We do not grieve as others do…. We grieve with the Hope of Christ.
Dave Pelegrin
To Holly and family,
Very saddened on hearing of your loss. Fortunately we have great memories of mucho good times we shared with you and King. He was one of a kind ! A very great person. My condolences to you.
Evans family
We would like to extend our condolences to the family. May God help you to cope with the heavyweight of your loss. Thinking of you all.
Kurt Klingmann
Heiples, So sorry for the untimely passing of King. We will always have many stories to tell around future Campfires. Perhaps with no irony, many revolve around past bonfires.
Tonda
King was a dear friend and neighbor and I am so very grateful to have known him during this lifetime. I shall always remember good dinners, lively discussion, laughter, comparing spices and recipes, science lessons, bird videos, curiosity about new science discoveries, excitement over a newly discovered gadget that was often shared with friends and from which I benefitted. . Most importantly I remember his loving kind heart that was shown in so many ways but was so palpable as he proudly spoke of Cindy and described the fun of family vacations, setting up her new apartment and finding the perfect kitties for her. I was touched when it was discovered that King drove Holly to purchase her favorite breakfast and he replied, “Of course I get to spend more time with my sweetie”. The world is a better place when there is such joy and appreciation for those simple daily tasks that we can offer to those we love. God speed and may you know that you are loved and missed.
Katharina, Adrian, Soraya, Farhad
When we think of King, we see a wonderful person with an everlasting smile on his face, like alwalys with a cheering up mood spending others love and pure joy. We have learnd about culture, science, politics, philosophy, comedy, food, the universe and many adventures just by listening to him – the way he was, the way he saw life, his perspectives and generous way of life were an example for all of us.
Although sometime we didn´t see each other for a long period of time, we never felt like strangers but family!
It feels and is too early to say goodbye – we had adventures to experience together but we couldn´t keep our promise visiting him in the US – this is a burden we carry with us for the rest of our lives.
Everyone in our family can resolutely say that deep regrets afflict us for not spending even more time with our beloved King.
Dear Holly and dear Cindy,
when we look at you, we also see King, you are the part of him still beeing here with us. He carries on living in you and in our hearts. Please know that we are there for you, that our thoughts and prayers are with you and we miss you! We will stick to our plan visiting you guys and experice everything we planned with King especially our hunt for the best restaurant in the world – this is what he would have wanted us to do.
Sincere condolences from
Katharina, Adrian, Soraya and Farhad
Diana M.
My dear Holly,
I am very sorry for this immense loss. Although I had only a couple of chances to meet up with you two, I felt truly welcomed and happy around you. I cherish the time we had together in Hamburg. I hope you soon find the strength to keep going. I am sending you the warmest hug and I will keep you in my prayers. God bless you and Cynthia.
Michael Tiegs
Dear Holly,
my condolences on the death of King. I hold you tightly in my arms. Sincere condolences from Michael
Jake, Betty, Alondra & Zander Mathena
Dear Holly,
I don’t have the words to express the deep sorrow that My family and I are feeling at the loss of King and we send our love and prayers. We are always here for you.
Our lives are truly better for having known King. When we moved to Germany Holly and King became family to us and to our kids Alondra and Zander.
King was a Great person and a wonderful friend. He always had a smile on his face, and Legos for the kids!! We had great conversations, he was a wealth of knowledge, and I always looked forward to sitting and talking with him.
King loved to cook. He would invite Betty to go searching Germany for the ingredients needed. The meals they would create were always something new and wonderful. It meant so much to Betty to have Kings Friendship.
We loved meeting down at Jungfernstieg to visit a café and just enjoy the wonderful view and spend time with Holly and King.
RAGU RAMAN
Dearest Holly,
Just heard of your loss and I am so sorry to hear this. While I never had the privilege of meeting King, his obituary was wonderful to read. You are in my thoughts. While we haven’t seen each other in ages, I will look to find a way to reconnect soon.
Love you.