Leon ‘Lee’ Otto Draeger, age 89, of Columbus, Nebraska, formerly of Osceola, passed away January 16, 2025 at Brookstone Acres in Columbus.

Services will be held at a later date.

Leon was born November 13, 1935 in Boone County, Nebraska to Otto W. and Lena F. (Staashelm) Draeger. He attended Boone County country school and graduated from Albion High School. Following high school he worked for the USDA Soil Conservation Service in Albion for a year. He then worked for Council Oak Stores as a meat cutter in Albion and as a meat market manager in Oakland for two years.

On July 2, 1955 he was united in marriage to Gayle Ellen Cathroe in Omaha. To this union four children were born. The family moved to Osceola where Leon worked for 41 years for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services out of Polk County. He also was a police officer for Polk County for 24 years and Deputy Sheriff for 3 years. He retired on January 3, 1998.

He was a member of the Osceola Ambulance, Osceola Fire Department, Osceola Lions Club, Osceola School Board, Polk County Wildlife Club and the Evangelical Free Church in Stromsburg.

He enjoyed woodworking and family camping.

Survivors include children: Douglas Draeger of Osceola, Nedine Farnham of Columbus, Linda Pelan of Columbus and Dale Draeger of Osceola; seven grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Otto and Lena Draeger; wife Gayle who passed away January 2, 2024; two brothers, Harold and Evan and two sisters Ferneen and Eleanor.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later.

Dubas Funeral Home of Osceola and Stromsburg has been entrusted with arrangements. Dubasfuneralhome.com