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Irene Drake
In Memory of
Irene
Drake
1913 - 2018
Memorial Candle Tribute From
Minnick Funeral Service, Inc.
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Obituary for Irene Drake

Irene  Drake
Funeral services for Irene Drake age 104 of Beemer, NE will be held on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at the Beemer United Methodist Church, with Pastors Les and Coral Parmenter officiating. Interment will be in the Beemer Cemetery following a luncheon at the Beemer Legion Hall. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Minnick Funeral Home in Wisner and will continue on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church.

Irene passed away on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at the Wisner Care Center.

Lola Irene Drake was born on April 25, 1913 to Mel (Graham) and Clarence Galbraith on a farm near Beemer, Nebraska. She attended a one room rural school district #19 and later #7. Irene graduated from Beemer High School in 1931. After high school, she entered nurses training at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, and in 1934 Irene graduated as a registered nurse. Irene practiced as a nurse in Omaha and Friend, Nebraska where she met and in 1937 married Howard Calvin Drake. Irene and Howard farmed for three years near Friend during tough times of drought and dust storms with no crops. Then in 1940, they moved to a farm north west of Beemer where they lived for nearly 40 years. After retiring in 1979 they moved to a residence in the town of Beemer where she lived until October 2016 when she moved to the Wisner Care Center.

Irene was a loyal and active member of the Beemer United Methodist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher for over 50 years. She was dedicated to United Methodist Women’s Groups and Eastern Star. She also participated in Model Homemaking Project Club, volunteering at the Colonial haven Nursing Home, and serving on Beemer Township Election Board. Irene’s hobbies were gardening, needle work, playing cards, crossword puzzles, and attending to her flower beds.

Irene was proceeded in death by her husband Howard, her parents Clarence and Mel, and infant brother and sister who died in infancy.

Survivors include her three children, four grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Son William Howard Drake and his wife Joan of Beemer. Beth Drake Roy and her husband Harold Roy of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Daughter Barbara and husband Rod Bergt of Norfolk Nebraska. Irene has two surviving sisters, Joyce Higgins of Omaha and Dorothy McMurry of Arizona. Irene has four granddaughters. Audrey who is married to Steve Willis who live in Lincoln. Laurel who is married to Gary Marx of Beemer. Ashley who is married to Bryce Wragge of Norfolk. And Jessica Graham Roy of Fort Lauderdale, FL. Her seven great grandchildren are Amelia and Calvin Wragge, Miles Roy Barecich, Andrew and Shelby Willis, Katelyn Willis, Danielle and fiancé Karrington Moudry Cooper, and Nicholas Marx.

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