George Edmund Draves

GEORGE EDMUND DRAVES

George Edmund Draves, 89, passed away on February 3 ^rd , 2019, at Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield, MN.

George Edmund Draves was born April 15, 1929, in Westfield Township, Dodge County, MN. He was the youngest child of George F. and Ellen (Nellie Fitzgerald) Draves. He attended Dodge County Schools and graduated from Hayfield High School in 1946. He enlisted in the Air Force and after basic training at Lackland Air Base, he completed the Medical Technician training at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. He was stationed at Castle Air Base in California for two years and Sioux City Municipal Airport in Sioux City, Iowa before honorably discharged in 1957. He then worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN. George worked at John Shaw Drug in Blooming Prairie. In 1962, he began employment at Thill Implement Company in Rose Creek as Office Manager for seventeen years. He also held positions with Farmers State Bank of Lyle, MN and Farm Credit Services in Blooming Prairie, and St. Peter, MN. He retired from Bruender Construction at Eagle Lake, MN, after 12 years of employment as their accountant. After retiring in 2003 he worked part time at the Dodge County Historical Society and was a volunteer after 2004. George enjoyed searching family history information and accumulated much information on his family tree.

George was a volunteer 20 years for Youth for Understanding, a foreign student exchange program. He served a number of positions such as the Area Representative, Field Manager, American Overseas Recruiter, and hosted a number of students. George placed over 230 students with host families and schools in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.

George’s family was one of the original families of Sacred Heart Church in Hayfield, MN and he was always active in choir and other church activities.

George is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents in 1962, sister, Helen, half-sisters, Mabel Fitzgerald, Neva Wistrom, Jean Miller, Vione Wuerflein, and half-brother, Elmer.

The Funeral Mass will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 16, 2019, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 150 2 ^nd Street NE in Hayfield with Father Thomas Niehaus celebrating. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Hayfield with Military Honors by the Hayfield American Legion Rothie Post # 330. Visitation will be two hours before the service at the church on Saturday. Czaplewski Family Funeral Home, 501 2 ^nd Street NW in Hayfield assisted with arrangements.

Blessed be his memory.

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