Kenneth Dreke Obituary

Fairmont, MN

            Funeral Service for Kenneth W. Dreke, age 90, of Fairmont, MN, will be 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at the Lakeview Funeral Home Chapel in Fairmont with military honors by the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post 36 and Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1222.  Interment will be in Fairview Memorial Park in Fairmont.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral Home on Thursday.  Ken passed away on Thursday afternoon, March 10, 2022, at the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont.  The Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.

            Kenneth William Dreke was born on May 4, 1931, in Fairmont, Martin County, MN.  He attended Seattle, WA, public schools.  Ken took a year off of school to join the Merchant Marines.  He later graduated from Seattle High School.  

            On March 19, 1953, Ken was drafted into the United States Army.  He achieved the rank of Corporal and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and Korean Service Medal before earning his honorable discharge on March 18, 1955. 

            On January 25, 1953, Ken was united in marriage to Delores Johnson in Fairmont.  This union was blessed with four sons, Ken, Vance, Jeff, and David.  Ken and Delores moved around to several different places while Ken served in the Army including, Fort Lewis Tacoma, WA, Fort Baker in San Francisco, CA, Camp Gordon near Augusta, GA, and eventually moving back to Fairmont. Ken and Delores shared over 65 years together before Delores passed away on March 24, 2018. 

            Ken worked at 3M in Fairmont as well as driving for Bettin Trucking for a short time.  More recently, he worked as a delivery driver for Peerless Cleaners for much of his career.  Ken then worked at Fairmont Plastics for about a year and a half before his retirement. 

            Ken was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Fairmont.  He was a great dad who enjoyed going fishing as well as deer and pheasant hunting with his sons.  Ken and Delores traveled around the United States and loved to play cards.  Ken earned his pilot license and loved taking the boys to fly-in breakfasts almost every Sunday until he sold the plane.  Ken’s most loved hobby was getting his hands dirty by cutting up scrap metal, even after working his regular job all day.  Many area farmers would call him to help them get rid of piles of metal that they needed gone. 

            Left to cherish his memory include his sons, Ken (Jane) Dreke of Grand Rapids, MN, Vance Dreke of Armstrong, IA, Jeff (Julie) Dreke of Eden Prairie, MN, and David (Dawn Larson-LaRow) of Fairmont, MN; grandchildren, Kyle (Ann), Kasey, Stephanie (Charles), and Christopher; great grandchildren, Olive, Natalie, Kai, Ellis, and Micheala; brother, Bob (Corrine) Dreke; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

            Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Delores Dreke; and his brothers, sisters, and in-laws.

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