Gerald Fredrick Dreger was born April 27, 1921, in rural Colfax and died Feb. 7, 2009, in Mission, Texas.
He was the son of Fred and Angie (nee Abraham) Dreger.
An avid, lifelong amateur radio operator (W9YEX and WOKB), at one time Gerald had the distinction of being the youngest licensed ham radio operator ever licensed in Wisconsin.
His other hobbies included woodworking, extensive travel, volunteer work and computers.
Gerald was a World War II veteran, serving as an officer in the Merchant Marines in the Atlantic Theater. After the war, he was a radio operator/dispatcher for Capital Airlines in Grand Rapids, Mich., and later in Milwaukee.
In the early 1950s, he went to work for WEAU television station as an engineer. He worked there until 1965 and was transferred by the Post Corporation to KVTO Television in Ottumwa, Iowa, and Kirksville, Mo., as a chief engineer. He retired to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Helen Dreger; his second wife of 52 years, Christie (nee Foss) Dreger, mother of his children; a son-in-law (Rev. Dymann Jirovec); multiple brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marjorie (nee Thaxton) Dreger; siblings, Arlene Lorch, Betty (Larry) Carlson, Charles (Faylene) Dreger; his children, Jeffery (Kim) Dreger of Pearland, Texas, Craig (Patricia) Dreger of Oshkosh, Wis., David Dreger of Clarksville, Iowa, Douglas Dreger of New Richmond, Wis., and Dawn Jirovec of Normal, Ill.; stepchildren, Jerry Alloway, Larry Alloway and Cindy Alloway; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren.
A family pre-cremation memorial service was officiated by Rev. Don Owens in Mission, Texas.
At a later date there will be a memorial in Wisconsin.
Interment will be at Holden Cemetery in Colfax.
Memorial donations may be made to the donor's choice.
Vigil Wilson Mortuary of Mission is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries.
He was the son of Fred and Angie (nee Abraham) Dreger.
An avid, lifelong amateur radio operator (W9YEX and WOKB), at one time Gerald had the distinction of being the youngest licensed ham radio operator ever licensed in Wisconsin.
His other hobbies included woodworking, extensive travel, volunteer work and computers.
Gerald was a World War II veteran, serving as an officer in the Merchant Marines in the Atlantic Theater. After the war, he was a radio operator/dispatcher for Capital Airlines in Grand Rapids, Mich., and later in Milwaukee.
In the early 1950s, he went to work for WEAU television station as an engineer. He worked there until 1965 and was transferred by the Post Corporation to KVTO Television in Ottumwa, Iowa, and Kirksville, Mo., as a chief engineer. He retired to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Helen Dreger; his second wife of 52 years, Christie (nee Foss) Dreger, mother of his children; a son-in-law (Rev. Dymann Jirovec); multiple brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marjorie (nee Thaxton) Dreger; siblings, Arlene Lorch, Betty (Larry) Carlson, Charles (Faylene) Dreger; his children, Jeffery (Kim) Dreger of Pearland, Texas, Craig (Patricia) Dreger of Oshkosh, Wis., David Dreger of Clarksville, Iowa, Douglas Dreger of New Richmond, Wis., and Dawn Jirovec of Normal, Ill.; stepchildren, Jerry Alloway, Larry Alloway and Cindy Alloway; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren.
A family pre-cremation memorial service was officiated by Rev. Don Owens in Mission, Texas.
At a later date there will be a memorial in Wisconsin.
Interment will be at Holden Cemetery in Colfax.
Memorial donations may be made to the donor's choice.
Vigil Wilson Mortuary of Mission is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries.
Gerald Fredrick Dreger was born April 27, 1921, in rural Colfax and died Feb. 7, 2009, in Mission, Texas.
He was the son of Fred and Angie (nee Abraham) Dreger.
An avid, lifelong amateur radio operator (W9YEX and WOKB), at one time Gerald had the distinction of being the youngest licensed ham radio operator ever licensed in Wisconsin.
His other hobbies included woodworking, extensive travel, volunteer work and computers.
Gerald was a World War II veteran, serving as an officer in the Merchant Marines in the Atlantic Theater. After the war, he was a radio operator/dispatcher for Capital Airlines in Grand Rapids, Mich., and later in Milwaukee.
In the early 1950s, he went to work for WEAU television station as an engineer. He worked there until 1965 and was transferred by the Post Corporation to KVTO Television in Ottumwa, Iowa, and Kirksville, Mo., as a chief engineer. He retired to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Helen Dreger; his second wife of 52 years, Christie (nee Foss) Dreger, mother of his children; a son-in-law (Rev. Dymann Jirovec); multiple brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marjorie (nee Thaxton) Dreger; siblings, Arlene Lorch, Betty (Larry) Carlson, Charles (Faylene) Dreger; his children, Jeffery (Kim) Dreger of Pearland, Texas, Craig (Patricia) Dreger of Oshkosh, Wis., David Dreger of Clarksville, Iowa, Douglas Dreger of New Richmond, Wis., and Dawn Jirovec of Normal, Ill.; stepchildren, Jerry Alloway, Larry Alloway and Cindy Alloway; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren.
A family pre-cremation memorial service was officiated by Rev. Don Owens in Mission, Texas.
At a later date there will be a memorial in Wisconsin.
Interment will be at Holden Cemetery in Colfax.
Memorial donations may be made to the donor's choice.
Vigil Wilson Mortuary of Mission is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries.
He was the son of Fred and Angie (nee Abraham) Dreger.
An avid, lifelong amateur radio operator (W9YEX and WOKB), at one time Gerald had the distinction of being the youngest licensed ham radio operator ever licensed in Wisconsin.
His other hobbies included woodworking, extensive travel, volunteer work and computers.
Gerald was a World War II veteran, serving as an officer in the Merchant Marines in the Atlantic Theater. After the war, he was a radio operator/dispatcher for Capital Airlines in Grand Rapids, Mich., and later in Milwaukee.
In the early 1950s, he went to work for WEAU television station as an engineer. He worked there until 1965 and was transferred by the Post Corporation to KVTO Television in Ottumwa, Iowa, and Kirksville, Mo., as a chief engineer. He retired to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Helen Dreger; his second wife of 52 years, Christie (nee Foss) Dreger, mother of his children; a son-in-law (Rev. Dymann Jirovec); multiple brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marjorie (nee Thaxton) Dreger; siblings, Arlene Lorch, Betty (Larry) Carlson, Charles (Faylene) Dreger; his children, Jeffery (Kim) Dreger of Pearland, Texas, Craig (Patricia) Dreger of Oshkosh, Wis., David Dreger of Clarksville, Iowa, Douglas Dreger of New Richmond, Wis., and Dawn Jirovec of Normal, Ill.; stepchildren, Jerry Alloway, Larry Alloway and Cindy Alloway; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren.
A family pre-cremation memorial service was officiated by Rev. Don Owens in Mission, Texas.
At a later date there will be a memorial in Wisconsin.
Interment will be at Holden Cemetery in Colfax.
Memorial donations may be made to the donor's choice.
Vigil Wilson Mortuary of Mission is in charge of funeral arrangements.
Sign the guest book at www.themonitor.com/obituaries.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
