Martin J. Graber, 91, passed peacefully in his sleep the morning of August 14, 2025 and entered the presence of Jesus his Saviour. He was born on May 11, 1934 in Adams County, IN to parents Martin Jacob Graber and Mary Agnes Windmiller Graber. He grew up on his parents’ farm 1 mile west of Linn Grove, IN. He graduated from Hartford High School in 1954 and joined the army. He served in a MASH unit for 3 years in Wurzburg, Germany.
After leaving the military he completed his ultimate dream of graduating from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1964. Following his residency in Ft. Wayne he joined Dr. Robert Boze’s medical practice in Berne, IN. In 1969 he moved to Indianapolis where he was a founding member of the Indiana College of Emergency Medicine and was the Associate Director of St Francis Hospital Family Practice Residency Program.
In 1980 he went on a short term mission trip to Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, East Africa where he ended up serving until 1993. After leaving Tenwek he spent a year serving with Samaritan’s Purse in Somalia, Sudan and Rwanda. He then spent the next 25 years developing medical clinics with the Maasai people before retiring in 2020 to spend time with his family. Overall he spent over 40 years treating people’s physical needs and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He was preceded in death by his parents Martin Jacob Graber and Mary Agnes Windmiller Graber, siblings Rosemary Graber Appleton (Kenneth), Lee Graber (Joy) and Franklin Graber (Linda), wives Gloria Fern Crownover Graber Beinburg and Anna Mae Lehman Graber, son Mark Lee Graber, and grandson Daniel Jordan McKnight.
He is survived by sister Carolyn Graber Costello (David) of Muncie, children Gregory Alan Graber of Greenwood, Marcia Jeanne Graber Mankin (Gregory) of Avon, Michelle Anne Graber McKnight (David) of Greenwood, Michael Jay Graber (Wendy) of Greenwood, grandchildren Zachary Kyle Mankin, Jacob Daniel Mankin (Rebecca), Mallory Marissa Mankin, David Lee McKnight, Micah Joseph Graber (Danielle), William Collin Graber, Jonathan Thomas Graber, Olya Alexandra Graber, Masha Victoria Graber, and Jonathan Andrew McKnight, and great grandchildren Emma Adeline Mankin, Callum Henry Mankin and Macallan James Graber along with many nieces and nephews.
Memorial gifts may be made to World Gospel Mission–Kenya field at P.O. Box 948, Marion, IN 46952-0948.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at Berean Baptist Church located at 1191 W. County Line Rd, Greenwood, IN 46142 from 10:00-11:30 with a Celebration of Life following at 11:30 am.
A truly inspirational and caring man. We need more like him.
Michael, I was so sorry to hear about your sweet dad, and Aaron was kind enough to forward me this link. What an amazing man! I’m looking forward to meeting him one day in Heaven. We are thinking of you and praying for you and your family. Dana Kloes, on behalf of your Blue Trust Family
Dr. Marty Graber was a truly dedicated advocate for improved healthcare delivery to the Maasai people. His devotion to them in word and deed was a remarkable testimony for many of us. May others be inspired to carry on his legacy! I lift prayers for his family as they celebrate his life and mourn his loss.
~ Dr. Steve Burgert, Past Medical Superintendent at Tenwek Hospital (2016 – 2021)
It’s with deep sorrow and grief to learn of Dr Graber demise. One I am sure of is that he is gone to be with Jesus. May the grace of God be the entire family, friends and colleagues.
Hon. Steven Mutai 1st Kenyan CEO Tenwek and Board member Nguswani Hospital
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the demise of Dr Graber, who was a true friend of the Maasai people, and all the communities served by Tenwek Hospital.
His many years of service have left a legacy that will continue to impact communities for many years to come.
He served Christ so diligently with utmost integrity of service and with skillfulness of hands. He will be missed by many. May the Lord comfort the family, friends, WGM fraternity and AGC
Rev John Kisotu.
Assistant Bishop, Africa Gospel Church Kenya, Chairman of board – AGC Lions Ngoswani Hospital
“Dear friends and family, I’m deeply saddened to learn of Martin Glaber’s passing through social media. I had the privilege of knowing about his remarkable work with the Maasai community. May his family find strength and comfort during this difficult time. Farewell to a dedicated servant, may his legacy live on.”
Rev. peter Sinti.
My heartfelt condolences to the whole family of Dr. Martin Graber.He was a devoted and committed servant of God who served Him with integrity and deeds.praying for you all.
Narok Africa Gospel church Regional Director.
Dr Marty was many things to me as a person, a doctor having first treated me in 1996,a father,a mentor and a friend.
He not only inspired my passion for medical practice but would later sponsor me through medical training.
I was previleged to have reconected and spent about 3 months with him at Lions hospital Ngosuani before he retired in 2020.
At 87 he still had excellent clinical skills and judgement and filled our evenings with many graphic stories of the miracle of Tenwek often punctuated with ribcracking jokes.
He shared his faith and love for God in a very simple way that reached the lowest in the society.
I will definitely miss him alot but his legacy leaves on.
May he rest in eternal peace.May God’s grace and comfort abound for his family at this time.
Dr Martin Graber was not only a mentor and tutor in my nursing career but also a spiritual father to me and all of us who served with him in Naikarra Health center, where he first started Maasai medical services. I miss him and I know he is with the Lord Jesus Christ.
A true dedicated missionary Doctor!
My sincere condolences to the family of Daktari Graber.
Shalom.
I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Dr. Graber. My heart goes out to the family and friends during this time of loss.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge Dr. Grabber’s remarkable contributions to healthcare service provision particularly through his work with Africa Gospel Church health facilities under the Medical Outreach program (MOP),
his dedication to establishing Ngoswani Hospital and providing medical services to the Maasai community has left a lasting impact.
Please accept my sincerest condolences, May Dr. Graber’s legacy continue to inspire and motivate us to carry on and serve the Lord through health care delivery.
God bless
Debbie mutai
AGC Health Services
Board member Ngoswani Hospital
While I never knew Martin, I know his son, Michael, who has blessed my family and me immensely. I have heard amazing stories of Dr. Graber and am motivated to live my faith out loud and making tangible differences in the lives of those whom God loves. Prayers for the family. While they are and will miss life without him, they must be celebrating the eternal reward he has now received. Thankful for this unsung hero.
What a God-honoring legacy, a selfless life so used by God, and inspiring very many in Christ!