Curtis “Curt” J. Drager, 86 year old resident of Swanville, MN, passed away Monday, May 12, 2025, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, MN. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, June 7, 2025, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Swanville, MN, with Pastor David Strohschen officiating. Visitation will be from 10:30-11:00 AM prior to the service. A private family burial in Springbrook Cemetery will be held prior to the service.
Curt was born on March 10, 1939 at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, MN, to the late Herbert O. and Clara Mabel (Campbell) Drager. Curt attended Swanville High School and graduated with the Class of 1957. On July 3, 1958, he married his high school sweetheart (the only girlfriend he ever had), Lila Thompson, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Swanville. They are the parents of three children, Vicki, Steven and Scott. He served on the City Council and was a volunteer firefighter for over 20 years. Curt was a Master Electrician, Master Plumber and the owner of Swanville Electric. During the 1980s, he also raised turkeys for several years. In 1987, they moved to Waite Park and managed a large apartment complex. During this time, he and the boys started Drager Electric, Plumbing & Heating until Steven’s death in 2022. They moved back to the area and lived in the Drager Cabin by Pillsbury Lake for 20 years. After remodeling his boyhood home in town, they were able to move in before Thanksgiving, 2024.
Curt is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Lila; children, Vicki Green and Scott Drager; grandchildren, Lacey (Scott) Solbro, Erin Kipka, Taylor (Mercedes) Drager, Tanner (Madeline) Drager, Autumn Drager; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Noah, Liam, Kayzlee, and Maverick.
He was preceded in death by his son, Steven; grandson, Eric Kipka; sons-in-law, Douglas Kipka and Michael Green; brothers, 3-year-old David and Lowell; parents, Herb and Mabel Drager; parents-in-law, George and Anna Thompson; brothers-in-law, Ervin, Shirley, Milo, Alvin; sisters-in-law, Gladys and Myrtle.
“Death leaves a heartache nothing can heal, Love leaves a memory no one can steal.”