John William Drew

Obituary

John William Drew was born on July 6, 1921, in McVille, North Dakota, to Granville and Edith (Taylor) Drew. He was baptized as a young child on April 14, 1929, by Rev. Lee Paulson in McVille, North Dakota, and later confirmed in his faith on May 21, 1943, by Rev. H. C. Streufert at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe, Minnesota. John received his education in Glencoe, Minnesota, graduating with the Glencoe High School Class of 1940. In 1929 the Drew family moved to rural Glencoe, where John grew up with his nine siblings on a farm near Sumter.

On October 14, 1942, John married his childhood sweetheart, Norma Stradtmann, performed by Rev. Alf. R. Streufert at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe, Minnesota. John and Norma made their home and farmed the same Stradtmann farm in rural Glencoe, Minnesota, from 1942-1999. After that amount of time the Stradtmann farm became known as the Drew farm. Then in 1999, they moved into Glencoe. John and Norma’s lives were blessed with two daughters, Barbara and Cindy. They shared over 57 years of marriage until Norma passed away on November 25, 1999.

John enjoyed farming and especially the relationships with his special neighbors and friends. He loved taking trips, music and whistling. John treasured the time spent with family. He was a member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe and on the board for the Federal Land Bank. In 2013, John moved to Glencoe Regional Health Services Long Term Care in Glencoe, where he passed away on October 2, 2018, at the age of 97 years, 2 months and 26 days.

Blessed be his memory.

John is survived by his:
Daughters, Barbara Oelfke and her husband, Ken, of Rochester, MN,
Cindy Soukup and her husband, Steve, of Prior Lake, MN;
4 Beloved Grandsons, Joe Oelfke and his wife, Cris,
Paul Oelfke and his wife, Lea,
Casey Brinkman and his wife, Maria,
Derek Brinkman and his wife, Ann;
2 Step Grandchildren;
9 Great Grandchildren;
5 Step Great Grandchildren;
Sister, Betty Knick;
Brother, Granville Drew and his wife, Colleen;
Sister-In-Law, Selma Streufert;
Nephews, Nieces, Other relatives and many friends.

John was preceded in death by his Parents, Granville and Edith Drew; Wife, Norma Drew; Siblings and In-Laws, Charles Drew and his wife, Clara, Evelyn Drew, Dorothy Klopfleisch and her husband, Fred, Jeanne Heyen and her husband, Francis, Lenore Rolf and her husband, Elmer, Lester Drew and his wife, Sarah, Rueben Knick, Dale Drew and his wife, Rosie; Brother-In-Law, Mark Streufert.