Funeral services for Robert Gerald Draayer, age 68, of Albert Lea, will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 7, at Calvary Baptist Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Doug Smither and the Rev. Glen Stevens will officiate. Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery following the service with Military Honors at the graveside by the Albert Lea Veteran’s Organizations. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea, and one hour prior to the service.

Bob passed away on Tuesday, June 4, 2002, after a lengthy battle with heart and lung disease.

Bob was born April 19, 1934, on a farm near Hollandale, the son of Bert and Gertrude Draayer. He attended the Hollandale and Albert Lea Schools. He worked in Hollandale doing farming until he moved to Albert Lea in 1955. He entered and served in the United States Army Infantry from 1958 to 1964.

Bob was united in marriage to Beverly (Galbraith) on July 22, 1961, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To this union two daughters were born: Sharon and Sandy.

Bob spent 35 years working for Queen Stoves/Scotsman as a welder and for seven years working at Thorne Crest Retirement Center as a maintenance man until his retirement in 1996. He was a member and served on the board of Local 3539 AFL CIO Union, Trades & Labor, and Queens Credit Union for 20 years. He was member of Calvary Baptist Church. He served as a trustee, usher and a Sunday School helper for many years.

Bob spent many wonderful years enjoying bowling, playing cards, taking Sunday drives, woodworking, listening to his scanner, putting puzzles together, and playing his hand-held games. He was proud to be a Dutchman. He was an avid fan of the Minnesota Vikings, Twins, Gophers and the Albert Lea Tigers. His greatest joy in life was spending time with his family and grandchildren and visiting with family and friends. His family and friends will sadly and greatly miss him.

Leaving to remember are his wife of 40 years, Bev of Albert Lea; two daughters: Sharon Overgaard and husband Stacey of Albert Lea, and Sandy Chatleain and husband Rob of Lake Crystal; four grandchildren: Spencer, Sydney and Schafer Overgaard of Albert Lea, and Taylor Chatleain of Lake Crystal; three brothers: John and wife Doris of Austin, Bill and wife Pat of Hollandale, and Ray and his friend Darlene Casterton of Albert Lea; two sisters: Evelyn and husband Gerrit Ravenhorst of Hollandale, and Betty and husband Leonard Boysen of Madison, Minn.; one stepbrother, David Draayer; four stepsisters: Susan Tabor, Carolyn Pieper, Gertrude Draayer and Barbara Draayer; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Marvel Beiser of Alden,

Shirley Anderson of Wabasha, Minn., Chuck and Ann Frondal of Rockford, Ill., Don and Linda Galbraith of Edgerton, Wis., and Gary Galbraith; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Gertrude Draayer; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Lawrence and Grace Galbraith; and two brothers: Hein Draayer and Jim Draayer.

Blessed be his memory.