Florence Draheim, 94, of Sunset Apartments, New Ulm, died Monday, June 15, 2009 at the New Ulm Medical Center in New Ulm.

 

Funeral service will 3 PM Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm with Pastor Timothy Smith officiating. Visitation will be 1 - 3 PM Thursday at the church. The Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm is in charge of the arrangements.

 

A second service will be 11 AM Saturday, June 20, 2009 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Brillion, Wisconsin with burial in the church cemetery. Pastor Ronald Ash will officiate. Visitation will be 6 - 8 PM Friday at the Wieting Funeral Home in Brillion and will continue for one hour prior to the time of service at church on Saturday. 

 

Florence Augusta Steinbach Draheim was born on May 5, 1915, in Forest Junction, Calumet County, Wisconsin to John F. and Augusta Gaetsch Steinbach. In 1930, Florence was baptized and then confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church of Brillion, Wisconsin, in the same confirmation class as Orman Draheim. She graduated from Brillion High School, Class of 1933. In 1938, Florence married Orman Draheim at Trinity Lutheran Church, Brillion. Orman and Florence worked together on their dairy farm almost all of their working life, first in Collins and then in rural Brillion. In retirement they lived on S. Francis St. in Brillion, and on Waldo Blvd. in Manitowoc, WI. Orman died in 1995 and in 1999 Florence moved to New Ulm, MN.
Florence is survived by her two daughters, Audrey [ Pedersen of Edgewood, WA, and Edith [ Ash of New Ulm, MN. She was blessed with 8 grandchildren and 1 foster grandchild: Jamie [ Pedersen, Seattle, WA, and Kari Pedersen Kirk, Bay Pines, FL; Allen [ Ash of Bonney Lake, WA, Nathan [ Ash, Highlands Ranch, CO, Mike [ Ash, San Diego, CA, Amy [ Friess, Waukesha, WI, Richie [ Ash, Brian Ash of Sun Prairie, WI, and Margo [ Meier of Menomonee Falls, WI. Florence was blessed after age 90 with 10 great- grandchildren: Trygve Pedersen, Jayden Ash, Nicholas and Amanda Ash, Julia and Ethan Ash, Lucy and Ruby Friess, Thornton and Finley Ash, and Heather and Courtney Meier. She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Otto and Dorothy Rusch,Washburn, WI, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Orman Draheim and infant daughter, Trudy, and her parents, John and Augusta Steinbach, 2 brothers, Edgar and Kenneth Steinbach and sister-in-laws, Dorothea Steinbach, Elleanore LaFleur, and Vema Rusch; brothers-in-law, Cyril LaFleur and Roy Rusch.

Florence enjoyed gardening, crocheting, play cards, and spending time with family and friends. She will be missed by many loving family members and friends, but she is enjoying the joys of heaven with Jesus.