Grinnell-Biography-Van Draska Family

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Grinnell-Biography-Van Draska Family

Sadie Bullock (1875 - 1929) and Frederick Van Draska married in 1897 and divorced in 1908. They shared three children together, Josephine Van Draska, LeRoy 'Roy' Van Draska, and Arthur Van Draska. In 1911 Sadie married Charley Watson of Grinnell.

Roy Van Draska (1900 - 1987) was a member of the physical plant crew at Grinnell College for 43 years, from 1923 - 1966. His first wife, Jennie Gardner Townsend (1901 - 1945), perished in a fire which burnt down the Von Draska house in 1945. Grinnell College faculty, students, and community members raised money for Roy in the aftermath of the tragedy. Jennie had two children from a previous marriage, Sergeant John Townsend and Harriet Mayer.

Roy remarried Nona Kriegal (1925 - 1977) in 1945 and they had four children together: Mary Barnum, Roy Jr Van Draska (1946 - 2000), Judy Dillon and Sharon Asberry.

Roy's brother Arthur Van Draska (1902 - 1981) married Eleanor Peterson (1901 - 1986) in July of 1923. Eleanor was employed at the Grinnell Canning Factory and for 15 years at the Grinnell Glove Factory. Together they shared seven children: Dale Van Draska (1927 - 1955), Richard Van Draska (1926 - 2009) of Grinnell, Ruth Van Draska of Dallas, Donna Meldrem (1932 - 2011) of Grinnell, Helen O'Brien of Huntington Beach, James 'Jim' Van Draska of Grinnell.

In 1950, Dale Van Draska enlisted and was sent to Korea in August. He was taken prisoner by the North Korean forces on Jan. 3, 1951 and he later died while still a prisoner. President Eisenhower awarded to commendation to Pfc. Van Draska for his service and sacrifce.

---Sadie Von Draska and Frederick Von Draska divorce decree (1908)
---Obituary for Sadie Watson

Roy Van Draska and family:

---Photograph of Roy Van Draska and first wife Jennie Gardner Townsend
--- GHR article about Jennie's death in house fire
--- S&B article about students, staff, and faculty members raising money for Roy after the tragedy
---List of donors and letter to Roy from Grinnell College students
---Photograph of John Townsend Sr, Roy, Jennie, and Harriet Townsend (Meyer)
--- Two photographs of Roy on a tractor on Grinnell College campus
--- GHR article about presidential chair Roy received upon his retirement from Grinnell College after 43 years as a member of the physical plant crew
--Obituraries for Roy Van Draska Sr. and his wife Nona Van Draska, and Roy Van Draska Jr.

Arthur Van Draska and family:
---Blog post about Jim Van Draska talent as a football star at Grinnell High School
--Obituary for Dale Van Draska, who died as a prisoner of war in South Korea during the Korean War
--Obituaries for Arthur Van Draska, Eleanor Van Draska, Richard Van Draska and wife Revea Van Draska, and Donna Van Draska Meldrem

https://daveadkinsgrinnell.wordpress.com/2015/07/12/jim-van-draska-life-and-times-of-grinnellian/

GHS Class of 1957 Senior Class President Dave Adkins wrote a blog post about Jim Van Draska's time as a football player at Grinnell High School.