Obituary of Gordon Charles Druffel

Gordon and Ingeborg Druffel Gordon Charles Druffel July 18, 1924 - November 1, 2012 Ingeborg Gisela (Michaelis) Druffel February 14, 1927 - March 22, 2008 Gordon C. Druffel was born in Pullman, Washington to William O. Druffel and Charlotte Eloise Hicks Druffel. He received his elementary education at Guardian Angel School in Colton, Washington and was a graduate of Colton High School. Soon after his 18th birthday, he left Colton to join the U.S. Army, serving at various U.S. Posts during World War II, including the Aleutian Islands. After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1945, he worked for the American Embassy in Djakarta, Indonesia and Berlin, Germany. While working in Berlin he met Inga, his wife for 53 Years. They moved to Seattle, Washington where Gordon worked for Centennial Mills as an accountant. When the office closed he was transferred to Portland, Oregon where he was the office manager until his retirement. The Druffels were members of The German Club of both Seattle and Portland. They enjoyed socializing, singing and dancing among others who spoke German. They made many friends. Gordon and Inga traveled the world extensively in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America, as well as North America. At first they would travel from Berlin to as far as a new Volkswagen would take them. After the extended vacations they would ship the car home. The last 25 years of retirement they were active members of Cruise Masters and took extended cruises all over the world. The Druffels were interesting conversationalists and wonderful hosts. They knew no strangers! Happy Hour at 4 pm daily was always started with a champagne toast. Gordon enjoyed reading newspapers from Portland, Colton and Berlin. Inga enjoyed writing letters and sending hundreds of cards and letters annually to friends and family. They both enjoyed music and regularly listened to records in English and German. The Druffels were huge Portland Trail Blazers fans and when Inga became ill, a close friend invited Sergio Rodriguez, now former Trail Blazer, to visit her. She was thrilled, speechless and could not stop telling everybody. The pictures were in the Oregonian and she said she felt like a movie star. Gordon is survived by one sister, Miriam Nesbit of Roseville, California, two nephews, Brian Nesbit (Tania) of Quincy, California, Jim Settles (Patti) of Carnation, Washington: a cousin Dianne Sather (Jim) of Lake Oswego and Inga's niece, Eveline Benke of Berlin, Germany. The Druffels were loved by all that knew them and now they are reunited again for eternity. Service Information