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Eileen Doris Wilkinson Drees

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Birth	:	19 Apr 1921 Tripp County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	9 Jan 2013 Gregory, Gregory County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Saint Joseph Cemetery, Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.2202988, -99.4338989
Description	:	Eileen Doris Wilkinson was born on April 19, 1921 to George and Julia (Foster) Wilkinson on a farm in Tripp County. She had wonderful memories of childhood and growing up. Her favorite toys were a little red wagon and a wicker doll buggy. Her sister, Eleanor, was her constant companion. One story most often told was when they were gathering cows to milk and one was particularly cantankerous. It kept running from the girls and Eileen started to cry and Eleanor said, "Should I cry too, Eileen?" Times were really hard. She remembered when she was in the sixth grade... Read More	Eileen Doris Wilkinson was born on April 19, 1921 to George and Julia (Foster) Wilkinson on a farm in Tripp County. She had wonderful memories of childhood and growing up. Her favorite toys were a little red wagon and a wicker doll buggy. Her sister, Eleanor, was her constant companion. One story most often told was when they were gathering cows to milk and one was particularly cantankerous. It kept running from the girls and Eileen started to cry and Eleanor said, "Should I cry too, Eileen?" Times were really hard. She remembered when she was in the sixth grade and rode the horse to a pasture northeast of the house. She looked off in the distance and the field was brown. She ran home and told her dad about it and by the time he got there the grasshoppers were so thick they had stripped the grain field. She spoke of her chores with livestock and horses, playing "pig", learning to sew, going to school on her horse, and picking gooseberries and making pies. Eileen went to high school in three different states—Colorado, Nebraska, and South Dakota. In Colome, she stayed at the boarding school which was the largest dormitory in the state. For fun she attended shows and dances and played ball and cards. She was a cheerleader at all three schools. During lunch hour, she always went to the Gamble store to help her dad. One day she dropped her class ring down the floor furnace. She cried all afternoon but later in the day she got it back. They had removed a part of the furnace and found it. One time she told us, "This is what I learned from growing up. It is important to take an active part in your school activities, studies, and grades. Hard work is good for you because it helps you prepare for opportunities in the future. Children should be taught the value and responsibility of money and save for the future." On December 26, 1944 she married Marvin Drees. He was home on leave from the war. She made her own wedding dress and carried carnations. When the wedding started the fire whistle blew because the ice house was burning. They honeymooned in Winner and Marvin left soon after for the Philippines where he was stationed. Marvin was the love of her life and they enjoyed 45 wonderful years together. They became the parents of five children whom she loved dearly. Eileen loved her family dearly. Her first and last question was always "When are you coming to visit me?" She was happiest when everyone was together and always welcomed her children's friends to be a part of those activities. Highlights of her year included reunions with relatives. They also ran a successful Gamble store. Eileen often spoke of special relationships with customers and being part of the Gregory business community. She loved her friends and their families and enjoyed attending all sorts of activities. She truly loved the close knit town of Gregory. She treasured her friends and so looked forward to coffees, parties and celebrations. She loved interacting with people and when she moved to her second home Silver Threads, she was able to find a whole new group of friends including a special companion Wesley Stinton. Eileen's love for life was infectious. Her hobbies included golf, bowling, square dancing, travel, sewing, following youth activities, dancing, music and a special love of cards. She had strong Christian values and was active in the Catholic Church. She was a prankster, a caregiver, a patriot and wonderful mother and grandmother. Eileen loved life and lived it. Eileen died peacefully on January 9, 2013 at Avera Gregory Healthcare Center surrounded by her five children. Eileen is preceded in death by her husband Marvin, her parents, and a sister Eleanor Kenzy. Eileen is survived by her five children, Mary Lynn (Greg) Seeley, of Overland Park, KS, Marlene (Denny) Brown of Sioux Falls, SD, Gregg (Barb) Drees of Gregory, SD, Jerry (Connie) Drees of Aberdeen, SD, and Nancy (Craig) Schoen of Sioux Falls, SD; nine grandchildren, Sam Putnam, Julie Dresch, Erin Gouldthorpe, Kelsey Drees, Jordan Drees, Jeremy Drees, Zachary Drees, Abbie Drees, and Brandi Johnson; two step grandsons; seven great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, and special friend Wesley Stinton. Obituary & Photo is from The Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Eileen Doris Wilkinson Drees's memorial?
Eileen Doris Wilkinson Drees's memorial is located at: Saint Joseph Cemetery, Gregory, Gregory County, USA.
When did Eileen Doris Wilkinson Drees death?
Eileen Doris Wilkinson Drees death on 9 Jan 2013 in Gregory, Gregory County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Eileen Doris Wilkinson Drees's memorial?
Latitude: 43.2202988
Longitude: -99.4338989

Family Members:

Parent

George Wilkinson

(1899 - 1993)

Julia Wilkinson

(1900 - 1992)

Spouse

Marvin J. Drees

(1918 - 1989)

Siblings

Eleanor M. Wilkinson Kenzy

(1922 - 1991)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2202988, -99.4338989

2. IOOF Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2380000, -99.4480000

3. Czech National Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2118988, -99.4636002

4. Dallas Hillview Cemetery
Dallas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2271996, -99.5310974

5. Saint Augustine Catholic Cemetery
Dallas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2263940, -99.5334467

6. Evangelical Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Dallas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1401970, -99.5147400

7. Graceland Cemetery
Burke, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1847000, -99.3022003

8. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Burke, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1507988, -99.2913971

9. Peace Cemetery
Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0816994, -99.3946991

10. Gregory County Home Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1253014, -99.2866974

11. Sully Cemetery
Lucas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2770000, -99.2380000

12. Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery
Paxton, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0823490, -99.5336010

13. Johnson Family Cemetery
Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1755028, -99.2228660

14. Lucas Cemetery
Lucas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2991560, -99.2189780

15. Dixon Cemetery
Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3932991, -99.4738998

16. Lucas Catholic Cemetery
Lucas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3005981, -99.2193985

17. Petersen Cemetery
Burke, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2539558, -99.1770172

18. Herrick Cemetery
Herrick, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1110000, -99.1970000

19. Saint Isidore Catholic Cemetery
Colome, Tripp County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2638200, -99.7223800

20. Colome Cemetery
Colome, Tripp County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2638245, -99.7223816

21. Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Jamison, Keya Paha County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9977989, -99.3139038

22. Brozik Family Cemetery
Dixon, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.4599755, -99.3854681

23. Gibson Cemetery
Tripp County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0642014, -99.6908035

24. Rock Valley Cemetery
Wewela, Tripp County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0641300, -99.6918100