Ruth Dorothy Ann Drexler

Ruth Dorothy Ann Kiesow Drexler was born April 15, 1929 to Rev. and Mrs. John (Anna Meyer) Kiesow at Tipton, KS. She died June 13, 2020. She was the youngest of 8 children.  Her father was a Lutheran Minister. She was baptized at Tipton by her father at an early age.  At the age of 9 months, her father accepted a call to the American Lutheran Church, 2 miles west and 1 mile south of Clatonia, NE. The family resided there until 1933 when Rev. Kiesow passed away. In 1935, her mother Anna married John Burger and they moved to his farm 2 ½ miles west of Clatonia.

Ruth was confirmed at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wisconsin Synod in 1943. She attended school at District 48 near their home and later graduated with honors from Clatonia High School in 1946.

Having lost her mother to death in March 1945, she then resided with her sister and brother in law, Helen and Noah Wiegand, in Beatrice, NE. She was employed shortly after graduation at the Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Company in Beatrice. She was employed there 6 ½ years until her marriage to Harold Block in 1952. Three girls were born to this union, Michele, Brenda and Teresa. They lived in Germany where Harold was serving with the military. They lived in Germany about 5 years on 2 tours of duty. Upon Sgt. Block’s death in 1962, Ruth and her 3 girls lived in Beatrice, NE.

She married Freddie Drexler March 13, 1964 and moved to the farm west of Fairbury, NE. The three girls were adopted by Freddie and in 1965 another daughter, Stephanie, was born. They lived on the farm near Gladstone until they moved to Fairbury in 1982. In their later years they made their home at Cedarwood Assisted Living and then Ruth at Gardenside Long Term Care until her death.

Through the years, Ruth was active in the Zion United Church of Christ (now known as Zion Countryside Church) where they were members. She belonged to the Faculty Wives group, Friendly Thursday Club, Jefferson County Hospital Auxiliary, The Elks Ladies, The Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and the American Legion.

Ruth loved to cook and bake and took pride in being a homemaker to their family.  She enjoyed following the many activities of her daughters during their school years. She was a voracious reader even up to the time of her death. She took pride in her grandchildren and great grandchildren and loved visits from them.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and step-father, her husband Freddie Drexler, her sisters and spouses, Esther and Harvey Schuerman, Helen and Noah Wiegand and her brothers and spouses, Karl and Loretta Kiesow, Alfred and Doris Kiesow, Martin and Marian Kiesow, Ernest  and Hazel Kiesow and Helmuth  and Bea Kiesow, brother in law and sister in law, Ott and Mary Sellenrick.

She is survived by her children Michele and Dave Reynolds of Placitas, NM; Brenda and Mike Beachler of Fairbury, NE; Teresa Drexler of Henderson, NV and Stephanie and Greg Wells of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Grandchildren: Nicole and Travis Edeal of Lexington, Kylie Sotelo of Salina, KS; Meredith and Rick Diaz of San Antonio, TX, Jeremy, Matthew and Hunter Wells of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL and Hailey and Joseph Allen of Pearl City, Hawaii.: Great grandchildren: Blaire, Blaike, Holton, Drexton, SumJai, TaiLyn, Donovan, Isaac, Candelaria, Nakhaly and Pimmasone.

She is also survived by nieces and nephews and many friends.

Services for Freddie & Ruth will be Saturday, August 8, 2020 at 10:30 at Zion Countryside Church - Gladstone, NE with Pastor Jeff Friesen officiating.  Memorials will go to the Zion Countryside Church. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com