Donna Rae Draper

Donna Rae (Gorham) Draper was born on July 3, 1927 to Edgar and Erma Gorham in Aurora, Nebraska, and was described by her father as his little firecracker. She was the fifth of six children and spent her childhood years on a farm outside of Aurora. Her early education was at the Brickyard School, a country elementary school, and she finished her public school education in Aurora. The only girl on her high school’s debate team, Donna excelled in her studies and graduated from Aurora High School in 1945 as valedictorian of her class. Her love of education and its importance were a consistent presence in her life throughout all of her years, and she passed that message on to her children. Donna attended the University of Nebraska for two years where she met C.W. (Bill) Draper at a broom (hour) dance at the university.

Bill and Donna Draper were married on September 21, 1947 and began their married life farming in the Aurora area. Four children were born to this union: Roger Lee, Karen Lou, Vicki Jo, and Linda Sue. From farming to a fertilizer business to bowling alley managers and owners, and into insurance crop adjusting, Donna worked with her husband, Bill, throughout their married life. The family moved from the Aurora/Grand Island/Giltner area in 1962 to Fairbury, Nebraska where Donna and Bill made their home for much of the remainder of their lives, and took on ownership of the Pla-Mor Bowling Lanes.

Donna was active in her church and in the Fairbury community as a volunteer for the Election Board, in the schools, Meals on Wheel, and Red Cross Blood Mobile. A lifelong member of the Methodist/United Methodist Church, she participated in and led many of the church’s ministries, including United Methodist Women (local and district), and teaching her children’s Sunday school classes.

Donna’s great love was her family and she regularly attended both children’s and grandchildren’s events. In their “semi” retirement years Donna and Bill could be found travelling from one end of the state to the other, and beyond, to attend events for their grandchildren, and helping out when needed. She was Bill’s strong co-pilot.

Donna is survived by her four children: Roger Draper and wife Kathryn, Karen Bedlan, Vicki Stoakes and husband Earl, Linda Boeckner and husband David; 8 grandchildren: Karinda Stoakes, Bill Draper, David Stoakes and wife Jen, Andrew Draper and wife Ronni, Ryan Bedlan, Dennis Stoakes and wife Jackie, Abigail Russell and husband Dale, Laura Boeckner and husband Pranoy Choudhury; 8 great grandchildren: Alex and Sammy Rae Draper, Alexis and Lilian Stoakes, Jensen and Chloe Bedlan, Stella Draper Zachary and Cooper Russell; brother Richard Gorham and wife Vi, brother-in-law Richard Draper and wife Shirley; sister-in-law Jeri Draper; numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her parents, infant brother Raymond, sisters Elinor Carnes, Larue Pearson, Beatrice Wolcott and their spouses, and son-in-law Kenneth Bedlan.

Donna is to be remembered as a warm and caring person, compassionate, honest and loving, and full of spunk. She was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. We will miss her.