Virgil LuVern DRAPER

DRAPER, SCOTT, NOLTE, LIEBERKNECHT, HANSON, GRAHAM, VOIGHT, LEACH, KEPLEY, FRANK, JENISON, FRAYNE, SMITH, REIGHARD, BOYINGTON, STORY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:45

January 28, 1924 --- November 28, 2017

Virgil L. Draper, age 93, of Belmond, IA, died, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond surrounded by his children. Funeral services will be Friday, 11:00 AM at the Belmond United Methodist Church, 1031 1st St. S.E.. The Reverend Leila Blackburn will be officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-7 PM at Andrews Funeral Home, 516 1st St. S.E., Belmond and will continue one hour prior the services at church Friday.

Virgil LuVern Draper, the son of William and Irene (Scott) Draper, was born January 28, 1924, at Dows, IA. He was raised on his parents farm where is helped his father with the farming tasks commencing in his early years. These years of his life instilled Virgil's lifelong strong work ethic and perseverance in all that he set forth to accomplish. Virgil graduated from Dows High School.

Virgil was united in marriage to Opal Irene Nolte on June 29, 1944, at the United Methodist Church, Popejoy, IA. There life partnership and journey lasted for more than 73 years until Opal's passing away on August 21, 2017. They will continue their life in eternity now that they are reunited with one another. Following their marriage the couple were blessed with five children including their son Gary, and 4 daughters: Diane, Janice, Marilyn and Susan.

During their early years of marriage Virgil and Opal farmed north of Blairsburg, IA, until 1950. They then moved to a farm south of Belmond where they continued their diverse farming operation raising a dairy herd, chickens, hogs, horses, corn, beans, hay and oats. The couple worked hand in hand over the years in the tasks of the farm as well as providing and nurturing to the needs of their children. In addition to their livestock they always had numerous pets and especially enjoyed their many farm dogs, a favorite of which was "Rusty".

Virgil and his wife were ideal partners on the farm and in life sharing many of the same characteristics and beliefs. Virgil strongly believed in hard work, and that you get out of something what you put into it. He loved to work the earth and care for the animals. He had a meticulous way of caring for and maintaining his farm machinery washing it and cleaning it up before putting it away after a day in the fields. He and Opal very much loved and cherished times spent raising their kids and watching them have their own families as the years went by. They were very generous and would often open their home up over their years on the farm to nearly anyone. They truly enjoyed family get-together's and being in the presence of others.

Virgil looked forward to outings with Opal at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. He loved a friendly but highly spirited game of cribbage or other board games and was an expert pool player spending countless hours with his wife and grandkids over the felt of his favorite pool table with a friendly but high competitive nature on his sleeve.

Virgil loved horses and he and Opal would often take the kids to the rodeo in Dayton. Virgil always had a friendly smile, twinkle in his eyes and a unique since of wit. He was often stern and conservative on the outside but very soft and compassionate on the inside. He instilled respect in his children and grandchildren.

In 1976, Virgil and Opal moved into the town of Belmond from the farm, however, they continued to own and operate the farm for many years before retiring. Even after their retirement from active farming one could almost daily see Virgil and Opal tooling at a gentle pace out the farm to check out things, or bring some leaves from their well manicured and spotless town yard out to the burn pit.

In addition to spending times with their families and treks to the farm, they were pretty much stuck together in all of their other past times, be it an outing for a meal, brightening the days of many friends during their visits to the care center for an afternoon conversation and of course Virgil's ice cream fix while they chatted, or sitting in their swing watching the happenings of the neighborhood, feeding the birds and squirrels, or taking a stroll around the town on the walking trail or in winter months at the retirement apartments. It truly didn't matter the occasion, task, or time and place, if you saw Virgil, then most certainly Opal would be at his side.

Over the years Virgil and Opal had looked forward to an outing to the casino of course it was always frugal in nature. The two had spent many years wintering in Texas and taken a vacation to Hawaii that they truly cherished.

Virgil was a long time member of the Belmond United Methodist Church.

He will be remembered as a man who was a steward of the earth, who cared for his animals and loved his family immensely. He truly was a gift to mankind and will be remembered in the hearts and minds of many. His nurturing and compassionate gift and respect for others was returned by the precious and undying love of his family as they cared for both he and Opal in their most recent years.

Virgil's legacy will be carried forward in the lives of his surviving son: Gary Draper, Randall, IA; daughters Diane (Dave) Lieberknecht, Belmond, IA, Janice Draper, Garner, IA, and Marilyn Hanson, Klemme, IA; son-in-law Ron Graham, Garner, IA; sister-in-law Veloise Voight, Amarillo, TX; grandchildren: Gary Lee (Fiancee' Meredith Leach, Charlotte, NC, Heather Kepley, Jewell, IA, and Kevin (Heather) Frank, Boxholm, IA; Debbie (Mark) Jenison, Belmond, IA, Danny Lieberknecht, Belmond, IA; Angela Frayne, Meservey, IA, Bryan (Cheila) Frayne, Garner, IA, Brenda (Steve) Smith, Garner, IA; Shelly Hanson (companion Bruce Johnson) Goodell, IA, Jason (Patti) Hanson, Goodell, IA, ; Stephanie (Nick) Reighard, Alexander, IA and Chad (Darci) Boyington, Klemme, IA; and many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other extended family. Virgil was preceded in death by his parents William and Irene; wife Opal 8-21-2017, daughter Susan Graham, sister Irene (Ernie) Story, brother Gerald (Eloise) Draper, in laws Edwin (Daisie) Nolte, sister-in-law Velva Draper, brother-in-law Keith Voight, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Keith (Ruth) Nolte, Kenny Nolte and many nieces and nephews: Linda, Kathy, Timothy, Nancy, Kenny Jr., Keith Jr. and Johnny.

Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, Iowa
http://www.andrewsfuneralhomeandfloral.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=4451534&fh_id=14473