Eugene Dreke

          Eugene “Gene” Dreke age 87 of Sibley, IA died Thursday, July 6, 2017 at the Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, IA.        Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sibley, IA with Rev. Barb Kopperud officiating. Burial will follow at Wallingford Lutheran Cemetery in Wallingford, IA.        Military Honors will be provided by the Sibley George E. Mudge American Legion Post No. 324 and William F. Allard VFW Post No. 7373, along with Estherville VFW Post 3388 and American Legion Post 91.        Visitation will be Tuesday, July 11th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley.      Eugene Robert Dreke was born March 8, 1930 in Fairmont, MN to William and Alvina (Ziemer) Dreke. He was the sixth of ten children; Les, Helen, Chris, Lila, Ray, Gene, Kenny, Jerry, Al and Bob. Growing up in the 1930’s following the Great Depression left a deep impression on Gene. The family lost their home and business. Gene and his brother Kenny hunted and fished to provide for their family. Gene told many stories of selling the fish to men in the tavern then took the money to buy milk, butter and eggs to help feed their family. Gene was forever grateful to his greater family saying, “we would have starved without their help”. He attended country school but quit in the 8th grade to help provide for his family. He went to live with his Aunt Lottie and Uncle Ellie Ziemer outside of Dunnell, MN where he could eat as much as he wanted! He later went to work as a hired man, plowing fields with horses. He moved to Seattle, WA where he and his brother Kenny were pin setters for a bowling alley. They were paid by the number of pins set. He saved money and with the help of his brother Les purchased his first car. He then drove back to Minnesota with his younger brothers; what an adventure that must have been!      He met Muriel Viola Stall on a double date with his cousin Martin Ziemer. They married on March 11, 1951 during a blizzard! He was called to serve in the Korean War and left before their first child, Robert, was born. Gene was an Army corporal during the Korean War. He served as a scout and sometimes sniper in the bitter cold mountains of Korea from 1951-1952. He spoke of falling down a mountain, freezing temps, and carried a piece of shrapnel in his hip as a life-long reminder of his service. He was forever proud to have served his country, but never asked anything in return. He returned to the states and they lived at their rural family home near Ringsted, IA. He received an early discharge to care for his ailing mother. They were blessed with 6 more healthy children and lost 2 babies to miscarriages. Pat was delivered by Gene at Muriel’s family farm. Sharon, Steve and Sue were born in Fairmont, MN. Gene worked many jobs to provide for their growing family. In about 1961, he moved the family to Sibley, IA where they were blessed with 2 more daughters, Beth and Pam. Then the family moved to Adrian where Gene ran a Co-op service station for the Mauch family. Gene moved his family back to Sibley about 1970. He worked at several places over the next decades. Among them was Co-op of Sibley and Jordan Implement of Melvin. He retired as soon as he was eligible for Social Security citing a number of friends and family who never lived long enough to collect their retirement, including his wife who died at age 56 in 1989. Gene tore down old barns and sold the lumber, painted houses, and did an assortment of handyman jobs throughout the surrounding communities. Gene stayed very active in his retirement years, frequently saying “I’m going to go until I can’t go any more”; and he did just that! He never missed a family function that he was invited to attend! He always put his family first! It was during his handyman years that he met the second love of his life, Elaine Freese. She was his very special friend and like a mother and grandmother to all his “51” children. Gene had a lifelong love of cars beginning with growing up in the family business of running a junk yard. He was a die-hard Ford man! However, his favorite car was a Lincoln and he owned many over the years.      Gene was an incredible man! He loved to put a smile on someone’s face, be it friend or stranger. He called each of his daughters his favorite redhead; even Sharon the only brunette. If you asked him about his kids, he’d tell you he had children; kids are goats. Or if you called an engine a motor, he’d explain the difference; motors are electric. Gene believed in God and made sure his children attended Sunday school, church and catechism classes. He believed in using good manners and enforced good posture. He rarely spanked us; didn’t need to as we were always on our best behavior when he was home. He LOVED children and greeted each new grandchild with enthusiasm, bragging about his 5 generations! I heard him tell of his “51” children enumerable times. ANY baby in his view brought big smiles to his face. I’ve never known any other man that got so much joy from babies.      Surviving him are his children, Bob and Barb Dreke and family of Rock Rapids, IA, Pat and Curt Harms and family of Shakopee, MN, Sharon and Les Powers and family of Sibley, IA, Steve and Karen Dreke and family of State Center, IA, Sue and Dave Lindemann and family of State Center, IA, Beth and Denny Kruger and family of Sheldon, IA, Pam Foster and family of George, IA, and his special friend, Elaine Freese and family of George, IA; brothers, Kenny and Lorrie Dreke and family of Fairmont, MN, Al and Martha Dreke and family of San Luis Obispo, CA, Bob and Corinne Dreke and family of Lynnwood, WA; sister-in-law, Helen Teig and family of Sheboygan, WI; and brother-in-law, Don Mustard and family of Gruver, IA; and many nieces and nephews.      He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Alvina Dreke; his wife, Muriel Stall Dreke; siblings, Les, Helen, Chris, Lila, Ray and Jerry; grandson, Bradley Willemssen and son-in-law, Steven Willemssen.