Jerome "Jerry" Lewis Draucker December 12, 1930 ~ July 15, 2010
		Draucker Funeral Home 700 N. Spruce Street Post Office Box 296 Ogallala, NE 69153 Ph:  308.284.4021

 OBITUARY

 
Longtime Nebraska Funeral Director and Ogallala resident Jerry L. Draucker, 79, died July 15, 2010, in Ogallala Community Hospital.

Visitation will be held at Draucker Funeral Home on Sunday, July 19th from 1-5 p.m. and on Monday, July 19th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The funeral service will be held at the Ogallala United Methodist Church, Tuesday, July 20th at 10 a.m. with the Reverend Chuck Rager officiating.  Funeral Rites will be given by the Ogalalla Masonic Lodge #159 AF & AM.

Jerome "Jerry" Lewis Draucker was born December 12, 1930, in Cozad, Nebraska, the son of Arnold and Gwen Mead Draucker.

Jerry received his early education in Cozad, graduating from Cozad High School in May 1948. He earned his Eagle Scout Award and received All State Football and Basketball Honors. He attended Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln from 1948 to 1950 and graduated from California College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles, CA. He passed the exam of the Nebraska Funeral Boards and was issued a Funeral Director and Embalmer License in 1951. Following his military service in the Navy as a medical corpsman, Jerry returned to Nebraska.

On June 15, 1958, he married Barbara Osborne in Norfolk, Nebraska. The couple made their home in Ogallala. He joined his father in business in 1953. Barbara and Jerry purchased the Funeral Home in 1971. Jerry was also employed at Arterburn Shoe Store and opened and managed the Holiday Inn in Ogallala. Among the many years of service and awards in the funeral industry, he served on the State of Nebraska Department of Health Board of Funeral Examiners from 1990 to 2000. He received the fifty year member award in 2004. In 2001, Draucker Funeral Home celebrated fifty years of being in business in Ogallala and having three generations in funeral service.

Jerry had a passion for his community, serving on numerous boards, committees, and service organizations. Jerry was elected to the Ogallala School Board, serving 12 years with a term as president. He also received a 50 year award in American Legion, a 50 year member of the Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, and a 50 year membership recipient in the United Methodist Church where he also served on various committees. Jerry served as president of Ogallala Jaycees and president of the Ogallala Chamber of Commerce, receiving the Good Neighbor and Trail Blazer Achievement Awards. He was an active member of the Ogallala Rotary Club, a two time Paul Harris Fellow and Level 2 major donor, served a term as president and furthered his service as District Governor of District 5630. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 57 years and a 20 year member of the Tehama Shriners. Jerry served on the Keith County Ag Committee for many years; he served on the Ogallala Community Hospital Board, during which the new hospital was built, was on the Board of Directors for the Thunderboat Races, member of the Keith County Community Foundation Board, was a Boy Scout leader, and served his community in many other facets.

His hobbies included hunting and fishing and he especially enjoyed the Men's Golf League.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and brother-in-law Jodie and Neil Davis; a son-in-law Kirk Miller, and aunt Carolyn Anderson.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara, son Craig Draucker and his wife Traci, and their three daughters Katherine, Caroline, and Rebekkah, all of Ogallala; daughter Lesa and her husband Walter Gerlach and their three children Rachel, Hannah, and Hayden, all of Parker, CO. Nephew Brad Davis and his wife Linda of Garberville, CA; aunt, Wanda Draucker of Omaha; uncle, Leonard Anderson of Polk; sister-in-law Carolyn Butterfield of Atkinson; brother-in-law Perry Osborne and his wife Sue of Panora, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials are directed to the United Methodist Church and the Keith County Community Foundation. Online Condolences may be sent by clicking here. Interment will be in the Ogallala Cemetery with military honors.

Draucker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.