Larry F. Dreiling

Larry F. Dreiling Cottage Grove - Larry F. Dreiling passed away surrounded by family in Eugene, Oregon on June 6th, 2023. He was 83. Larry was born November 4th, 1939 in Hays, Kansas to Bill and Irene (Schmidt) Dreiling. After growing up on a farm in Hays, Larry joined the Navy upon graduating from Hays High School. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Ranger from 1957-1960 touring the South Pacific. After his enlistment ended in 1960, Larry enrolled at Fort Hays Kansas State College and focused on earning a degree while playing college football where he earned first team All-Conference, and honorable mention All-American honors. It was during this time he met the love of his life Judy Kaye Ellison. They were married on June 10th, 1961 in Denver, Colorado and remained married for the rest of his life. They would go on to have five sons.

Larry earned a bachelor's degree in industrial arts along with his teaching credentials in 1965. After his collegiate playing days, he was a graduate assistant football coach at the college. He enjoyed a long and fruitful career as a high school teacher and coach. He began his career in Mankato, Kansas with subsequent teaching assignments in Ellis and Hays. He was a talented woodshop instructor passing on the knowledge and skills of building furniture which his students won many awards on their projects. In 1979 he and his wife Judy moved their family to Cottage Grove, Oregon where he continued teaching for another 20 years at Cottage Grove High School, finally retiring in 1999.

Throughout his teaching career, Larry brought his passion and knowledge of athletics to the track and to the football field. He was inducted into the Cottage Grove High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018 for his role as an assistant track coach (1979-1982) and head coach from (1983-99) and as an assistant football coach (1979-1999). He immensely enjoyed the connections with students, athletes, colleagues, coaches, and community members throughout his time teaching and coaching.

Along with coaching and teaching, Larry enjoyed working with animals. He raised and trained bird dogs and his love of horses culminated with him playing polo while in Kansas. Golf became a passion as well, and occupied a lot of his time, as he was a member of both the Hidden Valley and Middlefield Men's clubs in his time in Cottage Grove. Larry's greatest joy, however, was his love of his family. His family will miss the countless family gatherings and planned events. He never turned down an opportunity to spend time with his family, and sacrificed a lot in making sure his family was together, safe, and sound.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Neil (Irma), and grandson Emanuel "Manny" Dreiling. He is survived by his wife Judy, his sons Randy, David, Jeff, Tim, Mark, and his daughters-in-law Sara (Jeff) and Olivia (David). He is also survived by his sister Judy Freeman and her husband Doug, ten grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

A memorial will be held at Smith Lund Smith Funeral Chapel, 123 South Seventh Street, Cottage Grove, Or 97424 on Saturday, June 17th at 12:00 PM.