Inland Christian Home has recently
welcomed a new team member, Chaplain Leon Draayer. After Chaplain Dan Dundon retired earlier this year, the position remained empty for several months while we searched for the right person to fill his shoes.
Chaplain Draayer comes to us after a long and illustrious career that has taken him and his family around the country. His story began in Northwestern Iowa, where he was born and raised on a dairy farm. After high school, he attended university at nearby Northwestern College, where he could continue to work in dairy while completing his studies.
After graduating, he headed to Minnesota with his new wife where he took a post at his first church in the town of Woodstock. As he and his wife began growing their family, Chaplain Draayer’s journey took him to posts in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Michigan. During his assignment in Michigan, he returned to the seminary to earn his Doctorate of Ministry degree.
He and his family were quite happy in Michigan, where he took up hobbies like golf, which he still enjoys (although he claims he isn’t any good at it). The last thing he anticipated for his future was a move to California, but when the call came for him to take a post at the Chino Valley Reformed Church, he decided to consider it.
Although he didn’t think he’d fit in in California, after meeting the congregation, his mind was quickly made up and he and his family made the move. He stayed in this position for more than eleven years but eventually followed his calling back to the Midwest, where he worked for another six years in Wisconsin before retiring.
In retirement, he and his wife realized how important it was to be close to family, so they returned to California, where their three daughters still resided. Even though he had retired from church life, he still felt compelled to work and continue his ministry, so he took a position at a local funeral home doing what he calls a “little-bit-of-everything job.” Eventually, he retired from that career as well and settled in to enjoy life at the retirement community where he lives with his wife, who is an artist.
When the call came for a chaplain opening at ICH, he found that he wasn’t done with his ministry and still had plenty to share with the world. He answered the call and is now getting to know the ICH community as its new chaplain.
Currently, Chaplain Draayer is on campus ten hours per week to visit with residents and families. He attends the Wednesday morning coffee group on the patio and is available for appointments with anyone in need of his services. His work allows him to do something that he loves — working with people, particularly those in different stages of their lives who are dealing with a variety of needs.
Anyone interested in meeting with Chaplain Draayer should contact the front office to assist in scheduling an appointment.