Lawrence "Larry" Gruenau Drechsler's Obituary
Lawrence “Larry” Gruenau Drechsler, 75, of Culpeper died Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at his residence. He was born January 21, 1943 in Davenport, IA to Jo Seaman Drechsler and the late Carma Gruenau Drechsler.
Larry was born and raised in Davenport, IA. He graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with a BA in Art, and then attended an art institute in Stockholm, Sweden. He returned to the U.S. and enlisted in the Army where he served as an artist during the Vietnam War.
He then lived in Shepherdstown, WV until he moved to Culpeper in 1992. He was a very unique and talented man having been an accomplished musician, concert pianist, painter, sculptor, wood worker and gourmet cook. Some of his work was donated to the Culpeper Museum and The Smithsonian and he was credited with making a mechanical Santa that was sold at Neiman Marcus. Larry was an architectural designer whose work included designing The Culpeper Center, Copper Fish restaurant, and revamping the Vint Hill Theater and all their props. He also designed numerous homes in the Culpeper and Shepherdstown areas, as well as across the United States and abroad. He volunteered at Walter Reid Medical Center and was a care taker for disabled adults for many years in his own home. He most especially had a very special bond with John Ellison, whom he cared for for many years. Larry loved his nieces and nephews and his many special friends.
He is survived by his father, Jo Seaman Drechsler; two siblings, Carol Conrad and her husband, Loren of Albion, IA, and Christopher Drechsler and his wife, Natacha of St. Paul, MN; sister-in-law, Judy Drechsler of Port Townsend, WA; seven nieces and nephews, Andrew Chace, Emily Smesrud and her husband, David, Erin Schwarte and her husband, Kirk, Kristin Conrad, Joel Conrad, Jane Jessen and her husband, Jay, and Bernadette Drechsler; four great nieces and nephews, Nora and William Smesrud, and Jakob and James Jessen; and numerous cousins.
In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by two siblings, Jo Drechsler, Jr. and Celia Drechsler; and one nephew, Jo R. Drechsler.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Found and Sons Funeral Chapel of Culpeper is serving the family.
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