Nicholas (Nick) T. Drees

Nick Drees, of Ankeny, Iowa, was born on December 27, 1962 at Manning General Hospital in Manning, Iowa to James H. and Patricia J. Ramsey Drees. Nick passed from this life on October 10, 2011 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the Downtown Des Moines Mercy Medical Center Campus in the East Tower Auditorium (Use East Tower Entrance).
Nick grew up on the farm near Manning and attended Manning Community Schools, graduating in 1981 as the class valedictorian. In 1985, Nick graduated with honors from Harvard University. He was a member of the United Community Housing Coalition for a year, serving in Detroit, Michigan. There, he did landlord tenant counseling for the poor. He then attended the University of Chicago Law School graduating in 1989.
From 1989 to 1991, Nick served as a law clerk to Honorable Donald E. O'Brein, U.S. District Court for Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, Sioux City. Nick then went to work as an assistant public defender at the Polk County Public Defender's office in Des Moines. He worked there from 1991 to 1994. From 1994 to present, Nick worked for the Federal Public Defender's Office for Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa, Des Moines. He served as an assistant federal defender from 1994 to 1999. In 1999, he became the federal defender, serving as head of the agency's four offices in Iowa and representing clients in federal court. He continued in this position until the time of his death.
Throughout his career, Nick was active with the national ACLU, the ACLU of Iowa serving as a member of the board of directors and holding several offices, American Constitution Society, and Iowans Against the Death Penalty. He also served on the Harvard Schools and Scholarships Committee for Central Iowa as a member since 1992 and as chair since 1999.
Nick dedicated his career to criminal defense work. He believed very deeply that the American system of justice was best served by providing vigorous legal advocacy for the less fortunate. He believed that each person deserved to be treated fairly and with dignity and respect, and his life's work reflected his commitment and compassion and equal justice for all. He was a respected and beloved member of the state and federal legal community.
Nick was united in marriage with Edith Dawn Myer in Manning, Iowa on August 29th, 1986. They have three children, Jonathan, a student at Iowa State University, and twin daughters, Abigail and Kaitlyn, at home.
Nick is survived by his wife and children and his parents Jim and Pat Drees of Manning, Iowa; brothers Jeff and wife Gail of Austin, Texas, and Jay and wife Maureen of Manning Iowa; parents-in-law Dr. P.L. and Janet Myer of Manning, Iowa; sisters-in-law Beth and Mike Hill of Manning, Iowa, Dr. Barbara and Bret Hodne of Ankeny, Iowa, and Jean and Scott Schwiesow also of Ankeny, Iowa; and nieces and nephews: Nate Drees and wife Melissa of Austin, Texas, James Drees of Austin, Texas, Danielle Drees of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Laura and Jessica Hill, Nick, Ryan, and Ashley Hodne, and Chelsea and Blake Schwiesow all of Ankeny, Iowa.
Nick was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Drees and maternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Mayburn Ramsey.
Nick fought a courageous nine month battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer under the care of Mercy cancer specialists, the Mayo Clinic, and the National Cancer Institute. On this journey, he was an inspiration to all who knew him. The love and support expressed to Nick by family, friends, and colleagues during his illness touched him and his family deeply. He felt grateful and honored to be cared for by so many wonderful people.
Nick was humble about his many accomplishments, but he was very proud of his twenty-five year marriage to the love of his life, Edie, and of being the father of Jon, Abby, and Kate.