Roger Lee Dreeszen 1947 - 2016

DREESZEN, CRANE, KENNEDY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/18/2016 at 20:40:48

Sioux City Journal
27 April 2016

CUSHING, Iowa | Roger Lee Dreeszen, 69, of Cushing passed away on Sunday, April 24, 2016, at his home, where he came to live out the remainder of his life following a reoccurring battle with cancer.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John Lutheran Church of Cushing, with the Rev. Wayne C. Pfannkuch officiating. Burial will be in Cushing Cemetery at Cushing, with military rites conducted by the American Legion, Dessel-Schmidt Post 225 of Holstein, Iowa. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein.

Roger Lee Dreeszen was born March 19, 1947, to Elvie and Norma (Crane) Dreeszen in Holstein. He grew up on the family farm four miles north of Cushing, becoming part of the third generation of Dreeszens at "Rolling Acres." Roger attended elementary school in Cushing until the fifth grade when the family transferred to Holstein and he graduated from Holstein High School in 1965. After high school, he attended Iowa Central Community College in Webster City, Iowa, where he received an associate degree. He entered the service with the U.S. Army in 1968, where he held the rank of Specialist 5th Class. Roger served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 near Da Nang in the Central Highlands. After being honorably discharged in 1969, he worked for the Iowa Census Bureau before returning to the Dreeszen family farm operation.

Roger was united in marriage to Mary Kennedy on March 14, 1981, and the couple was blessed with three children. The family lived at Rolling Acres, where Roger farmed for the remainder of his life. He was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church in Cushing, where he was baptized and confirmed. He was very involved in his church where he served on the Church Council for many years and also taught Adult Bible class, led services, and gave sermons when needed. His strong faith defined who he was as a person and he was admired for it.

In his youth, Roger was a nine-year member of the Douglas Do-ers 4-H Club and was an Ida County 4-H officer. He loved farming and being involved in the community. He was an active member of the Ida County Farm Bureau where he served in several leadership positions. Roger received the Farm Bureau Distinguished Service in Agriculture Award in Ida County in 1998. He was also very involved with the American Legion and served as the Dessel-Schmidt Post 225 Commander in 2014 and also received the Honorary Lifetime Member award in 2015. Roger served on the Ida County Veterans Affairs Board, was a member of the Ida County Cattlemen and the Ida County Republicans, and was a Douglas Township trustee. He enjoyed participating in various productions with the Holstein Community Theatre and singing in numerous Holstein Community Cantatas.

Roger enjoyed time with his family, including several summer vacations and trips to London and Brazil. He especially adored his two grandchildren. Roger will be remembered for his caring, gentle nature, his witty humor, and signature grin.

He is survived by his wife, Mary of Cushing; daughter, Alison (Jeremy) Swanson of Harcourt, Iowa, and son, Adam (Alyssa) Dreeszen of Holstein; and grandchildren, Joley and Garrett Swanson of Harcourt. Also surviving are his siblings, Lanyce (Bryant) Mills of San Louis Obispo, Calif., Randall (Paula) Dreeszen of Iowa City, Iowa, and Carolyn Dreeszen of Edina, Minn.; brother and sister-in-law, Steve (Judy) Kennedy of Atlantic, Iowa; aunt, Velma (Dreeszen) Goettsch of Holstein; uncle, Donald Crane of Denison, Iowa; aunt, Barbara (Crane) and Wally Heidbrier of Duluth, Minn.; nieces, nephews, cousins; and a host of friends.

Roger was preceded in death by a son, Aaron John Dreeszen; his parents; and parents-in-law, Kennard (Margaret) Kennedy.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the family to be used in Roger's memory.

Online condolences can be made at nicklasdjensenfh.com.