Drefke, Delbert "Shorty" 1909-2004

DREFKE, SPECHT, HARNACK

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/30/2007 at 13:17:18

MARCUS, Iowa -- Delbert "Shorty" Drefke, 95, of Marcus died Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004, at Heartland Care Center in Marcus.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Peace Lutheran Church in Marcus, with the Rev. James Gruber officiating. Burial will be in Marcus-Amherst Cemetery. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with the family present 5 to 7 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Earnest-Rohde Funeral Home in Marcus.

Delbert was born July 18, 1909, in Liberty Township, rural Meriden, Iowa, the son of Herman and Margereta (Specht) Drefke. He was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Marcus. He graduated from Marcus High School in 1929. After high school, he worked at the Farmer's Elevator in Marcus and later operated the Green Gables Gas Station in Cherokee, Iowa.

On Sept. 7, 1936, he married Myrtle Harnack in Le Mars, Iowa. After their marriage, they made their home in Correctionville, Iowa, where he managed the Farmer's Elevator until 1951. In 1951, the couple moved to a farm north of Cleghorn, Iowa, where they lived and farmed until moving to a farm south of Marcus, where they lived until their retirement. They retired from farming in 1979, but continued to live on the farm. Myrtle died June 14, 1985. After her death he continued to live on the farm until he moved to Southside Apartments in 1995. He lived there until 2000, at which time he entered the Heartland Care Center in Marcus.

He was an avid bowler and always enjoyed a big garden. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church.

Those left to cherish his memory are a son and his wife, Don and Jan Drefke of Marcus; six grandchildren, Abby Drefke, Daniel Bergemann, Amy and her husband, Matt Weseloh, Rebecca and her husband, Chris Elia, John Bergemann and his special friend, Susan Schoper, and Judi and her husband, Steve Albert; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Myrtle; a daughter, Patricia Bergemann; and three brothers, Forrest "Frosty", Richard "Dick" and Delmer "Slim".

[Part of the Darrell Easton Obituary Collection; source: Sioux City Journal]