Wilheim J. Dreger, 86, 553 Cyrus Street, died Saturday following an illness with a heart ailment. He had been in failing health the past year but was taken seriously ill about a month ago. He was born in Prussia, February 28, 1849. He attended the Lutheran school there and later learned the stone mason trade. He was the last of a family of five children. He was married to Miss Angusta Possain, May 26, 1884, in the Lutheran church in Poland. He and Mrs. Dreger and their three children came to America in 1882 with Mr. Dreger's father, John Dreger, and settled on a farm in Berlin township. They resided there for three years and moved to a farm in Ionia township, now owned by John Rothgang. Three years later they moved into Ionia and have resided here ever since. Mr. Dreger has worked as a stone mason and for many years was employed by the Hayes body corporation. Mr. and Mrs. Dreger were charter members of the Evangelical Lutheran church of Ionia. Mr. and Mrs. Dreger celebrated their sixty-first wedding anniversary May 26, 1935.

There were 11 children, only six of whom survive, Michael Dreger, Hill Street; Mrs. Bert Kanouse, 759 East Main Street, August Dreger, 740 East Main Street, Paul Dreger, Lawton Street, Mrs. Claude Bigsby, 833 Branch Street and Mrs. Patrick Wizorek. The widow and several grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be held from St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 preceded by a short prayer service at the home, 553 Cyrus Street at 2 o'clock. Rev. R. A. Rook, pastor of St. John's Lutheran church, will officiate and burial will be at the family lot, Highland Park Cemetery
-Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Monday, June 17, 1935
....................................
Funeral services for Wilheim J. Dreger who died Saturday following an illness of several weeks, were held Tuesday afternoon.

A short prayer service was held from the home, 553 Cyrus street at 2 o'clock and services were held form St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, of which he was a charter member, at 2:30 with Rev. R. A. Rook, pastor of the church, officiating.

Bearers were six grandsons, Wayne Dreger, Wilbur Dreger, Amil Dreger, Buster Wieczorek, Clyde Kanouse and William Kanouse. Flowers were in charge of his granddaughters, Mrs. Glenn Marcussen and Miss Julia Wizorek. Interment was at the family lot at Highland Park cemetery. Among relatives from out of town attending the serves were: Mrs. M. Huffman, St. Paul, Minn.; Mrs. Charles Moe and Mrs. A. Churchill of Pontiac; Mrs. Louise Schrader of Detroit; Miss Julie Wieczorek, Mrs. and Mrs. Harry Carroll of Lansing; Wm. Possain, Lake Odessa; and Mrs. and Mrs. Don Carroll of Muir.
-Wednesday, June 19, 1935
----------------------------------------------------
Wilhelm was born in Posen, Prussia which is now Poland. German was spoken in the home.

Father: Johann Michael Draeger. Died in Michigan.
Mother: Henrietta Krenz b/d Germany
Additional child: Octavia Dreger 1892-1900

11 children total