Gladys Jane (VanEerden) Draayer passed away at home on November 17, 2022, and went to be with her Lord and Savior. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on August 14, 1932, to the late John and Jane (Gritter) VanEerden. Gladys spent her early years in Grand Rapids and graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School in 1950. She worked various jobs in Grand Rapids and then in 1951 she married the love of her life, Sidney Draayer. Over the next several decades, as the wife of a pastor, she faithfully served alongside him in various churches and ministries. Together they served congregations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cleveland, Ohio, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Kalamazoo, Michigan. In addition, to those churches, they also spent time ministering to U.S. Navy sailors in San Diego, California, and then moved to Grand Rapids in 1978 where Sidney began his work at the Christian Counseling Center. During this time, Gladys spent many years as an administrative assistant at Pine Rest Christian Hospital, a job that she dearly loved. In 1990, they began Paraklesis Ministries which took them around the world conducting seminars and retreats for missionaries and their families. In total, they traveled to over 30 countries and logged nearly 1,000,000 airline miles as they served the Lord in this very important work.

After this ministry concluded, life slowed down some and she was able to enjoy the simple things in life. Gladys did not require anything flashy and extravagant to make her happy. She enjoyed visits to the Thornapple River, sitting by the Holland State Park channel with her KFC takeout, and attending her grandchildren's numerous sporting and school events. She and Sidney enjoyed spending time at home, and she was very content sitting in their den watching the backyard birds and squirrels, reading, and spending time on her iPad while drinking a cup of hot tea. She loved using Facebook and Facetime to keep up with her children and grandchildren who lived in various cities around the country. Gladys was very proud of her 16 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren and loved them with all her heart. She talked of them often, always with a smile on her face. Her quiet and calm demeanor, her joyous sense of humor, and her strong faith made her a joy to be around. She blessed countless people over her 90 years.

She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Sidney Draayer; children Ronald Draayer of Kentwood, MI, Thomas (Luci) Draayer of Denver, Colorado, Janice (Richard Flanders) Draayer Holland of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Sherrie Draayer of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Randall (Bonnie) Draayer of Grand Rapids, Michigan; brothers and sisters-in-law Laura Van Eerden, Melvin Gezon, Arlene Brandt and James VanSingel; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Kenneth Draayer in 2006; her sisters Annetta and Fred Vanden Berg, Winifred and Peter Post, Ruth and Mel Fryling, Joanne Gezon; and brother John Van Eerden.

The family will greet friends and relatives at the Zaagman Memorial Chapel, 2800 Burton St. SE, on Monday, November 21, from 5 to 8 PM. A memorial service will be held at the Zaagman Memorial Chapel on Tuesday, November 22, at 11 AM, with Reverend John DeVries officiating. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed on Gladys's Tribute Wall on Zaagman.com. A private graveside committal at Pine Hill Cemetery will be held after the service. The family wishes to thank Faith Hospice, especially her nurse Paul Harris, for their superb care and comfort in her final days. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kenneth F. Draayer Memorial Scholarship Fund at Calvin University.