Mr. Richard F. Drees Sr.

ichard F. Drees Sr. With great sorrow, the Drees family announces the passing on Saturday, April 22 of our kind, brave, caring, and unimaginably generous husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend Richard Frederick Drees Sr. Born on January 31, 1931, in Dyersville Iowa, he was the son of Henry J. Drees and Mary Margaret (Klinkner) Drees. He grew up as an adventurous country boy on a farm with a strong work ethic that carried him through his life. His early education was at St. Joseph School in Earlville, Iowa. He then attended the Allied Institute of Technology where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Tool and Mechanical Engineering. As a proud Marine, he served his country in Korea in 1951 and 1952 with the 1st Marine Division. On June 27, 1959, he married the love of his life, his “Annie” in Earlville, Iowa. Together they created a loving family of seven children. He began his engineering career at Bemis Bag Research in Minneapolis as a project engineer before joining the Beloit Corporation in Beloit, Wisconsin. He worked for 16 years at the headquarters office as a product and project engineer, traveling to paper mills in the US and abroad. He transferred to Lenox, Massachusetts in 1977 and worked there as an engineer in design, production and management. He retired in 1999. He loved working with his hands and enjoyed a good project. He fixed almost everything including cars, roofs, electrical issues, HVAC, toilets, plumbing and sewer systems. Among his many talents were architectural lettering, calligraphy, and drawing. His witty illustrations always brought a smile to our faces. The full spectrum of his life is impressively laid out in diaries he kept every single day of his life from the time he was a boy. Using these diaries as reference, he and Jean entered the highlights of their lives on spreadsheets, color-coded by category, complete with photographs, and gifted them as books to their children. They’ve been updated every year. He had an amazing memory and often told very entertaining stories of the escapades of his life. Even in his last days, he told stories none of us had heard before. Rich was helping people throughout his life. He was a Boy Scout leader, youth sports manager, and coach; he delivered food for Berkshire Bounty and drove for the elderly. A communicant of St. Ann in Lenox, he volunteered in many church activities. He was treasurer and Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council #2412 and a charter member of VFW Post #12079. While he and Jean were leaders of their children’s 4-H Club in Wisconsin, it was a running joke that he and co-leader Jerri Wightman at the end of the world would be called to heaven early to set up folding chairs as they had done so expertly for hundreds of functions over time. (Jerri’s been up there waiting for him since last year.) Despite his many talents, he was always a humble and kind person who put his family first. He and Jean built a life steeped in love and a home that is warm, welcoming and filled with laughter. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but his spirit will live on in the memories and legacy he leaves behind. Rich is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jean Drees and their six children and families: daughter and daughter-in-law, Becky Drees and Ariel Hall of Pittsfield, MA; son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Mitzy Drees of Raleigh, NC and his daughter Joy Jones and Joy’s sons Knoah Harper and Josiah Dove of Fredericksburg, VA and Tim’s son and daughter-in-law Chris and Elizabeth Drees of Richmond, VA; Rod and Jen Drees of Lee, MA and their daughter and son-in-law, Kaitlynn and Joe Keller of Springfield, VT and Rod and Jen’s son and daughter-in-law, Matt and Amanda Drees of Becket, MA; son and daughter-in-law Rick (Jr.) and Heidi Drees and their children Joey and Aubree Drees of Highlands Ranch, CO; daughter and son-in-law, Heather and Tom Boland and their children Tyler and Tegan Boland of Portland, OR; daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Joe Quinn and their daughter Ruby Quinn of Medford, MA. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Herbert Drees and Anne O’Brien of Olney, MD, and many dear nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his infant daughter Aimee, sister Elizabeth Stelken, and four brothers, Lester, Cyril, Henry, and Robert Drees. Calling hours will be held, Friday, April 28th, 5:00-7:00 pm at Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main St, Lenox, MA. The celebration of Rich’s life will continue Saturday, April 29th at St. Ann Church, 134 Main St, Lenox, MA with a funeral service at 11:00 am and burial to follow. There will be a reception after the burial at St. Ann Parish Center.

Mr. Richard F. Drees Sr.

January 31, 1931 - April 22, 2023