Roger Drayna

Roger D. Drayna, 81, of Wausau died unexpectedly on Sunday, April 8, 2012 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Born in Superior in 1930, he graduated from Cathedral High School and Wisconsin State College – Superior. While in college he met fellow student and his future wife, Marcella Ramsay, and they married in 1953. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Roger began a fourteen-year teaching career in Antigo, where he taught English and history and later served as the junior high school principal. During the summers he worked as a ranger naturalist in Rocky Mountain National Park. In 1968, he left education to become a writer in the public relations department at Wausau Insurance. He was later named manager of public relations and held that position until his retirement in 1992.

Roger was an accomplished writer. He authored over 200 articles that appeared in regional and national magazines and had a weekly outdoor column in the Antigo Daily Journal for several years. Four of his articles are included in anthologies of outdoor writing. He enjoyed all outdoor activities and was hiking on his land with his wife the week before his death.

Roger will be greatly missed by his wife, Marcy; daughter Deborah (Ken) Johnson, Madison; and sons Mark (Stacey) Drayna, Phoenix, Arizona; John (Julie) Drayna, Wausau; and Paul Drayna, Seattle, Washington; and his seven grandchildren, Daniel, Michael and Emily Johnson, and Riley, Carley, Jennifer and Katie Drayna.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen, and Bertha Drayna; a son, Douglas Drayna; and his brother Charles Drayna.

A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2012, at the Church of Saint Anne, Wausau. Father Steven Brice will celebrate the mass. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 9:30 until the time of the service. Burial will take place after the service at Pine Grove cemetery, Wausau. You may sign the family guest book at helke.com. In lieu of flowers, a donation to The Nature Conservancy would be appreciated.