Judith Ann Drawbaugh

Judith (Judy) Ann Drawbaugh was born April 21, 1941 in Osceola, Nebraska to Chester and Irene (Holm) Walgreen. She grew up on the family farm with her two sisters, Dixie and Carolyn, while attending Osceola schools. Judy graduated from Osceola High School on May 21, 1958. Judy was involved in many activities at school including 4-H, pep club, choir, band, and was a part of the homecoming court as an attendant her senior year of high school. After high school, she moved to Columbus where she worked for Consumer Public Power. She met Gary, the love of her life, one day as she was walking out of a coffee shop. Judy and Gary were united in marriage on March 11, 1961 at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church in Columbus, Nebraska. To this union, three children were born: Candi, Lori and Scott. Together, the family lived in Columbus and Fremont, Nebraska, then Sioux Falls, South Dakota and finally settling in Omaha, Nebraska. She and Gary cared deeply for each other, and could always be found together on vacations, trips to the casino, or having dinner together at Ross’ Steakhouse. They were one of those rare couples that worked together for most of their lives, and rarely spent time apart. A favorite memory was when Gary took her to see Guy Lombardo, and in order to buy the tickets he sold his favorite and prized shotgun to take her. Judy and Gary opened Village Hardware in Omaha in 1975, which they operated together for 11 years. When the kids were young, she sold Avon products in Sioux Falls, which allowed her to buy her first car. For over 20 years, Judy was the director of the Countryside Village Art Fair in Omaha, where she organized and executed a show of many different styles of art and artists from across the country. She was employed by Westlake Ace Hardware for the past 35 years, where she could be found providing assistance to her customers in nearly every department of the store. For most of her years at Westlake, she was known as the “Plant Lady” and spent many springs and summers outside assisting customers in the garden center. This was her happy place. A lover of nature, she had the greenest thumb of all and loved tending to the plants. She was sought out by many for her excellent knowledge and customer service, and always had a smile on her face. As an adult, Judy enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, gardening and taking care of her plants, cooking, yearly fishing trips to Minnesota with her family, frequent trips to the casinos and traveling. Judy and Gary traveled to many places, including Hawaii, Arizona, California, and Las Vegas. Judy also spent time volunteering at Montclair Elementary School, often in her grandchildren’s classrooms. She enjoyed watching the Game Show Network and Husker Football Games, and enjoyed listening to country music, especially George Strait, Alan Jackson, Tammy Wynette, and Brooks and Dunn. Judy absolutely adored her family and loved spending time with them. Sunday nights were often spent with the entire family gathered around for dinner at her and Gary’s house. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt who will be remembered as a kind, caring, classy woman, who was a friend to all. It seems almost impossible to summarize such a beautiful and well-lived life in just a few paragraphs and there is so much more to her story. We all have many special memories of Judy and know that her legacy will live on with all of her family and friends. Judy passed away at home surrounded by her family on Monday, June 19, 2023 at the age of 82 years, 1 month and 29 days. She is preceded in death by her husband Gary, and her parents Chester and Irene Walgreen. She is survived by children Candi (John) Dennell of Omaha, Lori (Vorace) Packer of Omaha, and Scott (Debbie) Drawbaugh of Gardner, KS, 6 grandchildren; Lindsey (Ryan) Ueberrhein, Abby (Nick) Giandinoto, Scott Packer (fiancé Sarah), Jeff (Kelsey) Packer, Mason Drawbaugh, and Hailey Drawbaugh, 4 great grandchildren: Walter, Finn, Jordy, and Kaleigh, and sisters Dixie Augustine of Ft. Wayne, IN and Carolyn Bernt of Schuyler, NE. Celebration of Life service 11 AM Saturday at Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn. Private interment at a later date. Memorials to CHI Hospice.

Judith Ann Drawbaugh

April 21, 1941 - June 19, 2023