Steven M. Draeger

Steven Michael Draeger went home to Heaven to be with Jesus at the age of 47, on Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at Freeport Memorial Hospital in IL. He had declared more than once that he was ready to be with Jesus anytime because Heaven was always the ultimate goal. (2 Timothy 4:7-8) The rest of us wish that he wasn’t such an overachiever, because we would have loved more time with him.

He was born on October 8th, 1974 to Rudolph and Louann (Bauer) Draeger. He was the 2nd oldest of 7 children. He graduated from Marshfield High School, WI and later attended Trinity International University and DeVry college both in IL before jumping full force into the Information Technology field. He started his company SupportProbe & MRK Hosting in April 2000 and prided himself in providing personal, trustworthy services to his clients who he cared for as friends, striving to help everyone succeed and excel together. Steve was always willing to chip in to support and help everyone with his time and skills.

Steve loved & lived life to the fullest. He married his beloved wife, Julie on March 18, 2000 and was so proud to be the father of his five amazing kids. His family was his world! Steve loved to laugh, joke around and be goofy and fun. He may have started picking on you before he even knew your name. He used his sense of humor to connect with people, start conversations or just let you know he saw you and loved you. Maybe it seemed like he was stealing your food and putting a random hat on your head, but you’d look up and get his big grin, with affection in his eyes. He loved to have deep, real conversations to truly get to know people on the deepest levels. He loved to challenge people to go out of their comfort zones and analyze what they believed, and why. Steve was completely devoted to God and wanted to share the peace and joy he found in Jesus Christ with everyone he knew. He was always looking for ways to grow in his faith and encourage others to seek to know God more. That’s what his life purpose was! Steve loved music, having his family go on spontaneous trips and picnics and the Green Bay Packers. Steve was very much about making memories with people.

He is survived by his wife, Julie (Hegner) Draeger, their children Zachery, Naomi, Noah, Kayla and Lincoln Draeger all of Lena, IL. He is survived by his parents Rudolph & Louann (Bauer) Draeger, sisters April Harris of Marshfield, WI; May (Kevin) Griffin of Glendale, AZ; Tabitha (Jon) Eddy of Richmond, IL; Ruth (Justin) Gates of Eau Claire, Wi; & his brother Samuel (Tirzah) Draeger of Marshfield, WI, his mother-in-law Carol Hegner of Grayslake, IL and many nieces and nephews. He made friends everywhere he went and he is leaving behind many with a multitude of fond memories. He was preceded in death by his grandparents George & Delores Draeger and Leonard & Eleanor Bauer, infant brother Jonathon Draeger, Father-in-law Frank Hegner, Sister-in-law Robin Castellucci, Brother-in-law Frank Harris, Aunt Carol Erdle, Uncles Kenny Kremer, Lenny Bauer, Jim Dunlap, Martin Erdle, Gary Gonderzik and Mike Legrand. 

Friends and family are invited to a memorial visitation on Saturday, January 22, 2022 from 9:00AM until 11:00AM, at which time a memorial service will be held. Services at Haase-Lockwood & Associates Funeral Home and Crematory, 620 Legion Dr., Twin Lakes, WI 53181.