Wilbur Draayer

Wilbur James Draayer, age 77, of Sioux Center, passed away peacefully at Royal Meadows on Saturday, August 20, 2011 after a twenty-eight year battle with Parkinson's disease. A visitation will be held Tuesday from 4-8PM with the family present from 5-7PM at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A Funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 10:30AM at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Duane Tinklenberg and Rev. John Lee officiating. Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. The Draayer family prefers memorials be directed to Sioux Center Community Hospital Foundation (New Hospital Fund) or Christian Schools. Wilbur Draayer was born to Gerrit and Jane (Langstraat) Draayer on February 23, 1934 in Sioux Center, Iowa. He was raised on the family farm near Maurice. He attended school at Maurice through the twelfth grade where he enjoyed playing basketball. Wilbur and Jeanette B. Eenkhoorn were married on December 21, 1954 and resided in Sioux Center, Iowa. They were blessed with five children. In the early years of their life together Wilbur drove a propane truck for Coop Gas and Oil. A few years later Wilbur began selling trees from his garage which eventually led to the start of Draayer Nursery, now Greenworld Inc. In 1982, Wilbur accepted the position of groundskeeper at Dordt College. Many former Dordt students fondly remember working for Wilbur, respecting his quiet authority, strong work ethic, and sense of humor. Wilbur and Jeanette attended Bethel CRC in Sioux Center where Wilbur served as a deacon, an elder, and a catechism teacher. He was passionate about leading young people to a greater knowledge of his Savior. His love for working with young people led him to be involved in the founding of Harmony Youth Home in Orange City. Wilbur loved music and enjoyed singing tenor in the Bethel Men's Quartet. In his younger years, Wilbur enjoyed playing volleyball and softball. He also enjoyed gardening, wood working, fishing, and going on family vacations. He loved being surrounded by his children and grandchildren. Wilbur was a quiet, gentle man with a mischievous sense of humor and a vast knowledge of a variety of things. His warm heart was reflected through his easy smile and the twinkle in his eyes. Left to cherish Wilbur's memory are his wife of 56 years, Jeanette; his five children: David (Brenda) Draayer of Sioux Center, Michael (Julie) Draayer of Sioux Falls, SD, Timothy Draayer of Sioux Center, Ruth Draayer of Pocatello, Idaho, Rebecca (Michael) Harman of Hull, and special family friend Jo Anne Fletcher; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; three brothers: John (Gertrude) Draayer of Rock Valley, Gary (Sandy) Draayer of Sioux Center, and Ken (Belle) Draayer of Hull; five sisters: Wilmina Kramer, Catherine Calkhoven, Gladys (Gerald) De Weerd, Cynthia (Gerrit) Kruid, all of Sioux Center, and Anne De Weerd of Rock Valley; three sisters-in-law: Dorothy Draayer of Orange City, Lillian Draayer of Rock Valley and Christina Velgersdyk of Rock Valley as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Nicholas Draayer and Edwin Draayer; and four brothers-in-law: Henry Kramer, John Calkhoven, John De Weerd, and Harvey Velgersdyk.