SEPARATION AND RELEASE AGREEMENT


THIS  AGREEMENT is  effective  the 25th day of July 2002,  by and between  Graco
Inc., a Minnesota corporation  ("Graco"),  with its principal offices at 88 11th
Ave. N.E., Minneapolis,  Minnesota, 55413, and Stephen L. Bauman, an individual,
with a residence at 16817 Blenheim Way, Minnetonka, MN. 55345 ("Mr. Bauman").

WHEREAS, Mr. Bauman was employed by Graco; and

WHEREAS, the parties have agreed that Mr. Bauman has ceased to be an officer and
employee of Graco  effective July 8, 2002,  (the  "Separation  Date"),  and will
complete and terminate his employment relationship with Graco in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby mutually agreed by and between the parties for good
and valuable consideration as follows:

1.   Severance Payment
     -----------------

     Beginning on August 15, 2002 (but no sooner than the  expiration  of the 15
     day waiting period specified in Section 7 below, whichever is later) on the
     15th day of each of the next twelve months Graco will pay to Mr. Bauman, in
     monthly  installments of $13,433.33 each, the aggregate amount of $161,200,
     which is equal to one year of his annual base salary  immediately  prior to
     the Separation  Date.  Such payment shall be subject to tax withholding and
     deductions required by law. At any time before the last installment is paid
     Mr.  Bauman may request  that Graco pay the entire  remaining  amount owed,
     which Graco will do on the next regular payment date.

2.   Stock Options and Restricted Stock Grant
     ----------------------------------------

     All stock  options and  restricted  stock  granted to Mr.  Bauman under the
     Graco  Long Term  Incentive  Plan or Graco  Stock  Incentive  Plan shall be
     governed  by the  provisions  of said  plans  and the  agreements  executed
     between Graco and Mr. Bauman pursuant to said plans.

3.   Insurance Premiums
     ------------------

     For a period not to exceed 12 months  following the Separation  Date, Graco
     shall,  if Mr.  Bauman so chooses,  continue to cover Mr.  Bauman under its
     standard medical and dental  insurance  coverages for employees to the same
     extent as Mr. Bauman was covered  immediately prior to the Separation Date,
     and Mr. Bauman shall pay to Graco, monthly by check, an amount equal to the
     employee paid portion of the premium for such insurance.  In the event that
     Mr.  Bauman has or acquires  comparable  insurance  coverage  through a new
     employer  or spouse  coverage,  Mr.  Bauman  shall so notify  Graco and the
     coverage under the Graco plans provided herein shall cease.

4.   Outplacement Assistance
     -----------------------

     Graco shall provide an  outplacement  agency that may be used by Mr. Bauman
     to seek other  employment,  for a period not to exceed one (1) year or upon
     Mr. Bauman securing other employment,  whichever first occurs.  Said agency
     shall be mutually  agreed upon by Graco and Mr.  Bauman,  and the  services
     provided  shall be  customary  for seeking  employment  at the level of the
     position Mr. Bauman held at Graco.

5.   Cooperation
     -----------

     For a period of three (3) years after the Separation Date, Mr. Bauman shall
     render  all  reasonable   cooperation  to  Graco  in  connection  with  the
     prosecution or defense of any lawsuit or other  judicial or  administrative
     action,  including  participating  as a source of information or witness in
     any such  action.  Graco  shall  reimburse  Mr.  Bauman for any  reasonable
     out-of-pocket  expenses (including  attorneys' fees, if necessary) incurred
     by him in connection with rendering such cooperation.

6.   Confidentiality
     ---------------

     a.   Mr. Bauman  hereby agrees that,  for a period of three (3) years after
          the Separation Date, he will not, directly or indirectly, disclose any
          Confidential  Information,  as defined in subsection (b) below, to any
          other party, and will not in any way use such Confidential Information
          in the course of any future employment.

     b.   As used herein,  the term  "Confidential  Information"  shall mean all
          information  which is treated as  confidential or proprietary by Graco
          in the normal course of its business,  including,  without limitation,
          documents  so marked,  or is a trade  secret of Graco,  which has been
          disclosed  by  Graco to Mr.  Bauman,  including,  without  limitation,
          information   relating  to  Graco  employees,   officers,   directors,
          products,  processes,  product  development  or  research,  equipment,
          machinery,  apparatus,  business  operations,   financial  results  or
          condition,  strategic  plans  or  projections,  customers,  suppliers,
          marketing,   sales,   management  practices,   technical  information,
          drawings, specifications, material, and the like, and any knowledge or
          information  developed by Mr. Bauman  relating to the same,  provided,
                                                                       --------
          however, that Confidential  Information  shall not include information
          which is at the time of disclosure,  or thereafter becomes,  a part of
          the public domain through no act or  omission by Mr. Bauman, or infor-
          mation  which Mr. Bauman is required to disclose  in a court or  other
          judicial proceeding or is otherwise legally required to disclose.

     c.   The  provisions  of this Section 6 are in addition to, and not in lieu
          of, the fiduciary and other duties and obligations of Mr. Bauman as an
          employee and officer of Graco,  and this Section 6 does not limit said
          obligations in any way, by time or otherwise.


7.   Release
     -------

     a.   Except with respect to the  provisions of this  Agreement,  Mr. Bauman
          hereby  releases  and  forever  discharges  Graco  and  its  officers,
          employees,  agents,  successors,  and assigns from any and all claims,
          causes of  action,  demands,  damages,  liability  and  responsibility
          whatsoever,  arising prior to the Separation Date,  including  without
          limitation,  any rights or claims for further compensation,  including
          without  limitation any bonus payment for the year 2002, or any rights
          to  participate  in  any  Company-sponsored  program  relating  to the
          purchase or acquisition of any Graco common stock, preferred stock, or
          other  equity  in  Graco  or  any   subsidiary   thereof,   except  as
          specifically  provided  in this  Agreement,  or any right or claim Mr.
          Bauman  may  have  or  assert  under  the  common  law or  any  state,
          municipal,  federal,  or other  statute or  regulation  regarding  the
          rights of employees  generally or based on discrimination on the basis
          of race, creed, gender, age, or other protected status. This Section 7
          shall not affect Mr. Bauman's rights to  indemnification as an officer
          and employee of Graco under Graco's  by-laws and applicable  Minnesota
          law nor any rights which he has accrued by  participating in any Graco
          benefit  plan,  subject to the  provisions  of this  Agreement and the
          terms and conditions set forth in such plan as of the Separation Date.

     b.   Mr. Bauman certifies, represents and agrees that:

          (i)    this Agreement is written in a manner that he understands;

          (ii)   he  understands  that  this  Section 7 specifically  waives any
                 rights or claims he may have arising under federal,  state, and
                 local  laws prohibiting  employment discrimination, such as the
                 Age  Discrimination in  Employment  Act,  the  Minnesota  Human
                 Rights  Act, Title  VII of the  Civil Rights Act  of 1964,  the
                 Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act
                 and/or  any claims for damages or for injuries  based on common
                 law theories of contract, quasi-contract or tort;

          (iii)  the waiver  herein of rights or claims  are to those  which may
                 have arisen prior to the execution date of this Agreement.

          (iv)   a portion of the consideration  set out in this Agreement is in
                 addition to compensation that he may already have been entitled
                 to;

          (v)    he has been specifically  advised in writing to consult with an
                 attorney prior to executing this Agreement;

          (vi)   he has been  informed that he has  a period of at least twenty-
                 one (21) calendar days within which to consider this Agreement;
                 which period may be waived by him executing this Agreement;

          (vii)  he specifically  understands that he may revoke this  Agreement
                 for a  period of  at least fifteen (15) calendar days following
                 his execution of this Agreement, and that this Agreement is not
                 effective or enforceable until the fifteen (15) day  revocation
                 period has expired;

          (viii) if he decides to revoke this Agreement within said fifteen (15)
                 day  period,  he  must  provide  written  notice  to  the  Vice
                 President,  General Counsel and Secretary,  delivered in person
                 or by mail. If his revocation is sent by mail, it must be post-
                 marked within the fifteen (15) day period,  properly  addressed
                 to  Robert M.  Mattison,  Vice President,  General Counsel  and
                 Secretary, Graco Inc., P.O. Box 1441, Minneapolis,  MN.  55440,
                 and  sent by  certified mail,  return receipt  requested.   Mr.
                 Bauman  understands that  Graco will have no  obligation  under
                 this  Agreement if  he revokes his  acceptance within the  time
                 limit specified.

          (ix)   Mr. Bauman expressly  agrees  that  the  waiver  of his  rights
                 pursuant to the Agreement is knowing and voluntary on his part.

8.   Applicable Law
     --------------

     Except to the  extent  governed  by federal  law,  this  Agreement  and any
     controversies  between the parties  shall be governed by and  construed  in
     accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota.

9.   Entire Agreement
     ----------------

     This Agreement  constitutes the entire agreement and understanding  between
     the parties  with  respect to the subject  matter  hereof,  and,  except as
     otherwise  specifically  provided  herein,   specifically   supersedes  and
     replaces any and all prior written or oral  agreements  or  understandings.
     This  Agreement may not be amended except in a writing signed by authorized
     representatives of both parties.

10.  Headings
     --------

     The  headings  of  the  paragraphs  herein  are  included  solely  for  the
     convenience   of   reference   and  shall  not   control   the  meaning  or
     interpretation of any provisions of this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement


GRACO INC.


By:  /s/David A. Roberts
     -------------------------------------
     DAVID A. ROBERTS
     President and Chief Executive Officer
     July 25, 2002


By:  /s/Stephen L. Bauman
     ------------------------------
     STEPHEN L. BAUMAN


Date: July 25, 2002
      -----------------------------