Jack Edwin Drake

Jack Edwin Drake, the son of Wallace Edwin and Arlene Yvonne (Barnes) Drake, was born July 29, 1934, at the family home south of Walnut. He died Oct. 11, 2015 at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, at the age of 81 years, two months, and 13 days.
Jack attended country school and then graduated from Atlantic High School with the class of 1952. He then attended the University of Iowa. On June 27, 1954 he was united in marriage to Shirley Joan Bess at the Griswold United Methodist Church. They began farming in 1955. Jack was elected as a State Legislature in 1992 and proudly served in that capacity until his death.
Jack loved helping people and serving the public. He was a life-long member of the Griswold United Methodist Church. He enjoyed farming and agriculture related organizations and had served in many capacities, including: Vice President of the Pottawattamie County Zoning Commission, President of the Pottawattamie Extension Council, president and voting delegate of the East Pottawattamie County Farm Bureau, Iowa Farm Bureau Board of Directors, vice president and organizing member of Pottawattamie County Taxpayers Association, and the Walnut Telephone Company board secretary. Jack was known for his strong moral values. He was active in 4-H, and had been a leader of the Lincoln Leading Livestock Lads. Jack especially loved spending time with his family.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother David; his sister Candace; and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Carl and Thetis Bees.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Shirley Drake; his children and their spouses: Marcia Anderson and husband Gary, Scott Drake and wife Myong, Jo Ellen McFarland and husband Pat, and Kyle Drake and wife Janet; eleven grandchildren: Christy Anderson, Casey (Megan) Anderson, Kelly Drake, Alex Drake, Melissa Drake, Kevin (Becca) Drake, Brian (Amy) Drake, Rachel McFarland, Lindsey (Brian) Adams, Jake (Ashlee) McFarland, and Ben (Patty) McFarland; and his great grandchildren: Chris and Matt Anderson, Caden and Liam Rehfeldt, Nathan McFarland, Drake, Ava, Jonah, and Naomi McFarland, Andrea Adams, Willow, Kinnick, and Sawyer Drake. Jack is also survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at the Griswold United Methodist Church. Interment will be at the Griswold Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be at the Griswold United Methodist Church on Wednesday evening from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold is in charge of arrangements.