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In Memory of
Shirley Jean
Drake (Henke)
Drake (Henke)
1927 - 2014
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Obituary for Shirley Jean Drake (Henke)
Shirley Jean Henke Drake, of Muscatine, died on January 26th. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 1 at Grace Lutheran Church. The Rev. Gary MacManus of Grace Lutheran Church and Pastor Shelley Nelson of New Era Lutheran Church will officiate. Casket Bearers will be Representative Dan Peterson, Representative Walter Conlin, Mr. Scott Ingstad, State Representative Tom Sands, Representative Jeff Kauffman and Mr. Gary McCullough. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Representative Betty Hoffman Bright, Mr. John Oberhaus, Senator Jim Hahn, Senator Charles Grassley, Senator David Stanley, Dr. Larry Gatzke, Mrs. Joanie Axel, Mrs. Evelyn Schauland and Mr. Dick O’Brien. Visitation will be at the Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Funeral Home on Friday, January 31st from 4:00-7:00 P.M.
A memorial has been established at the funeral home in Shirley's name. Sympathy notes may be left for the Drake family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com
Shirley Jean Henke Drake was born on February 6, 1927 in rural Muscatine, the daughter of George and Molinda Rhoelk Henke. She graduated from Muscatine High School in 1945. In 1949 she graduated from Drake University with degrees in music education and piano. She traveled the United States as a national chapter advisor for Chi Omega, her college sorority, and worked with Eleanor Roosevelt. On June 29, 1950 she married US Naval Academy graduate and high school sweetheart, Richard Drake, in a ceremony at Zion Lutheran Church in Muscatine. She taught piano lessons for many years to hundreds of students. She was choir director at Grace Lutheran Church for 28 years, later conducting her much beloved bell choir. She was president of her P.E.O. chapter and a member of Eastern Star and the Republican Women's Organization. She served as a board member on the Iowa Humanities Board. She relished Legislative Leadership Conferences and was as active as humanly possible for the GOP and especially for Senator Drake re-election campaigns. She served on the committee that began the Laura Musser Museum and Art Gallery and worked for the Muscatine Symphony to thrive. She served on the Muscatine Foundation and believed in its mission. She appreciated every meeting of the Rotary Club and played the piano whenever possible. Known for her always ready smile, high heel shoes and infectious laugh; she received many awards for her lifetime of service to the community and the state of Iowa. She enjoyed sewing and needlepoint and loved dogs.
Shirley will be deeply missed by her two children, Rick Drake and his wife, Willa of Muscatine and Cheryll Ryder and her husband, George of Wilton, Connecticut. Grandchildren include Jeremy Drake and his wife, Nichelle; Jessica Drake-Metzger and her husband, Rob; Nathan Hadley, Ryan Hadley, Shawn Manley and her husband, Seth; Kelsie Schubick, Bert Green; and George, Jane, Geoffrey, Barton and Paul Ryder. Great Grandchildren include Braedyn and Emmery Drake; Madeline, Carter, Thomas and Nicholas Metzger; Halley and Harper Manley; and Breanna, Brian and Bert Green, Jr.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Senator Richard F. Drake.
A memorial has been established at the funeral home in Shirley's name. Sympathy notes may be left for the Drake family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com
Shirley Jean Henke Drake was born on February 6, 1927 in rural Muscatine, the daughter of George and Molinda Rhoelk Henke. She graduated from Muscatine High School in 1945. In 1949 she graduated from Drake University with degrees in music education and piano. She traveled the United States as a national chapter advisor for Chi Omega, her college sorority, and worked with Eleanor Roosevelt. On June 29, 1950 she married US Naval Academy graduate and high school sweetheart, Richard Drake, in a ceremony at Zion Lutheran Church in Muscatine. She taught piano lessons for many years to hundreds of students. She was choir director at Grace Lutheran Church for 28 years, later conducting her much beloved bell choir. She was president of her P.E.O. chapter and a member of Eastern Star and the Republican Women's Organization. She served as a board member on the Iowa Humanities Board. She relished Legislative Leadership Conferences and was as active as humanly possible for the GOP and especially for Senator Drake re-election campaigns. She served on the committee that began the Laura Musser Museum and Art Gallery and worked for the Muscatine Symphony to thrive. She served on the Muscatine Foundation and believed in its mission. She appreciated every meeting of the Rotary Club and played the piano whenever possible. Known for her always ready smile, high heel shoes and infectious laugh; she received many awards for her lifetime of service to the community and the state of Iowa. She enjoyed sewing and needlepoint and loved dogs.
Shirley will be deeply missed by her two children, Rick Drake and his wife, Willa of Muscatine and Cheryll Ryder and her husband, George of Wilton, Connecticut. Grandchildren include Jeremy Drake and his wife, Nichelle; Jessica Drake-Metzger and her husband, Rob; Nathan Hadley, Ryan Hadley, Shawn Manley and her husband, Seth; Kelsie Schubick, Bert Green; and George, Jane, Geoffrey, Barton and Paul Ryder. Great Grandchildren include Braedyn and Emmery Drake; Madeline, Carter, Thomas and Nicholas Metzger; Halley and Harper Manley; and Breanna, Brian and Bert Green, Jr.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Senator Richard F. Drake.
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