Service Information
Lester W. Draeger Sr., age 87, of Winthrop passed away on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at his home in Transit Township, Sibley County, Minnesota.
Funeral Services will be Monday, March 5, 2018, 11:00 A.M. at Peace Lutheran Church in Winthrop with interment in St. Matthew’s Lutheran Cemetery, Penn Township, McLeod County, Minnesota.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 4, 2018, from 3:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. at Peace Lutheran Church in Winthrop and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
Obituary
Lester W. Draeger Sr. was born on December 5, 1930, in Glencoe, Minnesota. He was the son of Louis and Lydia (Bartels) Draeger. Lester was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth. He attended grade school at a country school by the farm and was a graduate of the Winthrop High School.
On November 16, 1950, Lester was united in marriage to Luella Podratz at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Gibbon. After their marriage, the couple lived in Transit Township and in 1958 moved to a farm in Bismarck Township. In 1966 they purchased and moved to their farm in Transit Township. Lester and Luella were blessed with five children and they shared 65 years of marriage before Luella passed away on January 28, 2016.
Lester was a former member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Penn Township, McLeod County, and a current member of Peace Lutheran Church in Winthrop. He was a past member of the Sibley County Fair Association and was the secretary for the Round Grove Creamery.
Lester enjoyed watching sports, playing cards, going to fairs, and tending to his farm and animals, especially the sheep.
Lester passed away Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at his home in Transit Township at the age of 87 years. Blessed be his memory.
Lester is survived by his:
Children, Lester Draeger Jr. and his wife, Teri of Minong, WI,
LeRoy Draeger and his wife, Jeanine of Maple Lake, MN,
Mary Draeger of Hutchinson, MN, and
Paula Kruse and her husband, Brian of Overland Park, KS;
Grandchildren, SFC Ret. Joseph Shaw and his wife, Tammy; Matt Draeger, LSCS Tom Draeger and his wife, Erin, LeRoy Steve Draeger and his wife, Kristin, Tony Draeger and his wife Sandy, and Michael Kuehn, Caroline Draeger, Lynn Jerman and her husband, Don, Tonya Hewitt, Susan Draeger, Landen Kruse and Ethan Kruse;
Great-Grandchildren, Cheyenne Shaw, Michael Kuehn, Jr., Skyler Kask, Alex Draeger, Jordan Breyer, Colten Draeger, Dallin Jerman, Emmett Draeger, Carter Draeger, Peytyn Draeger, Kayla Johnson, Mackenzie Breyer, Bella Draeger, Taylor Draeger, Sienna Draeger;
Nieces, Nephews, other relatives and friends.
Lester was preceded in death by his Parents, Louis and Lydia Draeger; Wife, Luella Draeger; Daughter, Betty and husband, Fred Pitzner; Great-Granddaughter, Adalyn Draeger; and Brother, George Draeger.
Lynell Krueger Borgerding says
Lester was a very kind, helpful man that truly love his sheep. I remember talking to him about 40 years ago about how to raise sheep. He was so excited to help. Lester was a wonderful man.