John Draayer

Rock Valley, Iowa: John Draayer, age 85, of Rock Valley, Iowa, entered into eternal rest Monday, March 4, 2013 at the Hegg Memorial Health Center. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 9, 2013 at the Calvin Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Gideon Wamala officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2013 at Porter Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

John was born January 7, 1928 in Maurice, Iowa to Gerrit and Jane (Langstraat) Draayer. While growing up on the family farm he attended school until the 8th grade in Maurice. On November 14, 1950 John was united in marriage to Gertrude Jane Dibbet in Sioux Center, Iowa. John served his country in the United States Army in the Koren Conflict from January 26, 1951 to January 28, 1953. After completing his military service, the couple farmed near Sioux Center, then moving to a farm they purchased in Rock Valley in 1962. They retired and moved to Rock Valley in 1990. In April of 2012 they moved to Four-Seasons.

John is survived by his wife, Gertrude; 3 sons, Darwin (Joyce) of Remsen, IA, Conrad 'Dean' of Boulder, CO, and Lyle (Emily) of Anchorage, AK; 1 granddaughter, Amber Draayer of Anchorage; 7 step-grandchildren, Jacki (Ray) Trujillo, Jamie (Cory) Spangler, Julie (Wes) Wortmann, and John (Terri), Joe (Jessica), and Jeremy Galles; and 16 step-great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Gerrit 'Gary' (Sandy) Draayer of Sioux Center, IA and Ken (Belle) Draayer of Hull; 4 sisters, Katherine Calkhoven of Sioux Center,IA, Anna De Weerd of Rock Valley, Gladys (Gerald) De Weerd of Sioux Center, and Cynthia (Gerrit) Kruid of Sioux Center; and brothers and sisters-in-laws, Dorothy Kramer, Lillian Draayer, Jeannette Draayer, Jacob 'Jack' (Priscilla) Dibbet, Joan Maassen, Alvin (Arlene) Hoogendoorn, and Henrietta 'Gerlie' Dibbet.

John was preceded in death by 1 son, Earl 'Ed' Draayer on December 2008; his parents and parents-in-laws, Jacob (Sophie Van Ravensway) Dibbet; brothers, Nicholas, Edwin, and Wilbur Draayer; brothers and sisters-in-law, Wilmina (Henry) Kramer, John Calkhoven, John De Weerd, John Dibbet, William (Alice) Van Voorst, Richard (Junaida) Dibbet, and Raymond Maassen.