Michael "Mike" Dreese

Dreese, Michael "Mike," passed away on October 4, 2007 due to complications from a stroke. Memorial service will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 9, 2007 at Trinity Presbyterian Church where Mike was an active member. Michael Robert Dreese was born July 10, 1925 to Boyd Claire and Edna Simonson Dreese in Halstead, Kansas. Mike attended Halstead High School until October of 1943 when he entered the United States Navy. He attended Naval Boot Camp at Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa before being assigned to serve on Landing Craft 864 in the South Pacific. After the war, Mike continued service in the Naval Reserve. He used the GI bill and graduated from Kansas State College in Manhattan. Mike married Neva Jean Seiler in June of 1949 in the First Methodist Church in Halstead. They taught school for 2 years in Ulysses, Kansas and then moved to Wichita where Mike was employed by the Derby Refining Company until retirement. After retiring, Mike volunteered at the Exploration Place Science Museum, at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport and for church activities such as a clean up trip to New Orleans. He also enjoyed playing bridge, square dancing, swimming and working in his vegetable garden. In his later years he enjoyed attending reunions of his group, the Naval Veterans of the 864. Mike was very intelligent hard working, quiet, soft spoken and well respected. He was a loving husband and father. In addition to his wife of 58 years, Mike is survived by his children, Dan and his companion Theresa Fajdetich of Wichita, Patrick and wife Lynn and children Jimmy and Laura of Plymouth, Minnesota, Marjorie and husband Mike Logan and sons Kyle and Kevin of Roscoe, Illinois. He also leaves behind his sisters, Katherine Shipp of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Helen Alpers of Roswell, New Mexico. Mike you will be missed. A memorial has been established in his name with Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2258 Marigold, Wichita, KS 67204. This is a Cochran Service