David Robert Drake

David Robert Drake, 76, of Lanesboro, passed away at his home Wednesday, June 12, 2013.

David was born in La Crosse, Wis., Nov. 3, 1936, to Charles R. and Vienna L. (Kennedy) Drake of Lanesboro. He graduated from Lanesboro High School in 1954, and when his daughter, Deborah graduated in 1973, they were the first fourth generation family to graduate from Lanesboro which included his father, Charles R. Drake and grandmother, Nel Rafferty Drake. On Jan. 29, 1955, David married Marjorie L. Thompson, his wife of 57 years, at the Little Brown Church in the Vale, Nashua, Iowa.

He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lanesboro.

He is survived by his wife and four children, daughter, Deborah (Dennis) Long, Des Moines, Iowa; sons, Robin (JoAnn), Marshalltown, Iowa, Kevin and Andrew (Mara) both of Lanesboro. He has 11 grandchildren, Nicholas (Marsha), Christopher, Stephanie, Melanie, David, Ashley, Leah, Michael, Abigail, Meghan and Mason; eight great-grandchildren, Caden, Olivia, Noah, Levi, Silas, Treighton, Zoe and Sahari. David has three siblings, Dianne Drake of Minnesota City; and two brothers, Michael (Carol) and Peter of La Crosse.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Don.

David was a 40 year senior maintenance employee of the Minnesota Department of Transportation and was missed by many local travelers following his retirement. During this time he served three terms on the Lanesboro City Council and two terms as the city mayor. He also drove a school van for Lanesboro Public Schools for eight years. David volunteered in many organizations including Boy Scout Master, Lanesboro Historic Preservation Board member, Lanesboro Sylvan Park Board Member, 27 year member of the Lanesboro Fire Department, EMT on the Lanesboro Ambulance Service, Secretary of the Tri-County Firefighters Association, organizing member of the Root River Recreation Committee, and 41 years on the LHS Football "chain gang". He was a league bowler for many years and especially enjoyed early a.m. meetings of the gang at the "Chat-n-Chew" restaurant and the "Hucklee Buck" card games at the Lanesboro Legion and Pedal Pusher Cafe. David loved life, he loved his family and he loved friends.

A memorial service in his honor will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lanesboro, Saturday, June 22, at 11 a.m., with visitation one hour before the service. Pastor Nicholas Drake will officiate assisted by Rev. Kerry Eversole.

Special thanks to the Mayo Hospice service for the wonderful care and especially to Jackie Rohe, his special loving and caring Hospice nurse.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital or Lanesboro Sylvan Park.

Johnson-Riley Funeral Home in Lanesboro is assisting with arrangements. 507-867-4310. rileyfuneralhomes.com.