George Stanley Draffen

George Stanley Draffen, Jr., age 63, of Tipton, Mo., passed away Thursday, March 24, 2016, at St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City with family at his side. George was born December 5, 1952, in Boonville, Mo., and was one of eleven children born to George S. Sr. and Lillian F. Draffen. He lived all of his 63 years in and around Tipton. George is a member of St. Andrew's Catholic Church. He served his country in the US Army and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War. When George was a very young man he worked at the plant in Tipton making pool tables and also worked at the shoe factory. For a short time he worked at Reform, Mo., at the nuclear plant. George has been employed by the State of Missouri in the Office of Administration as a Supervisor of Data Processing for some time. He loved to play fast pitch baseball when he was younger and was an excellent catcher in that game. St. Louis Cardinals was his favorite team. Some of his other favorite activities include trout fishing, watching car races and riding his motorcycle. George and his wife Ritta, have enjoyed life together for 37 years. He loved his family and especially loved his grandbabies. George's parents preceded him in death. Surviving George are: his wife, Lauritta Kay of the home; son, Robbie Brown and his wife Marsha of Iberia; brothers, Herbie Draffen and his wife Sherry of California, Kenny Draffen of Fulton, Daniel Draffen and his wife Susan of Jefferson City, Donald Draffen and his wife Shelley of Tipton, Harold Draffen of Tipton, Steven Draffen and his wife Cynthia of Sedalia; sisters, Kathy Kempker and her husband David of Eldon, Lily Beck and her husband Larry of Jefferson City, Mary Draffen of Tipton, and Joanne Koechner and her husband Kent of Tipton; grandchildren, Alicia Browning and her husband Leroy and Jesse Brown all of Tipton, Mikaela Koless and her husband Cody of Boonville; six great-grandchildren, Brayden, Mason, Wesley, Kamden, Nevaeh and Keiko. Visitation will be held Monday, March 28, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Meisenheimer Funeral Home in Tipton with Rosary at 4:30 p.m. Funeral services for George S. Draffen will be held 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Tipton, Mo., with burial immediately following in the St. Andrew's Catholic Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Andrew's Catholic Church or to a Memorial of choice. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Meisenheimer Funeral Home, Tipton, Mo. Online condolences may be made at www.meisenheimerfuneralhome.com