Iolan Stanley E. Dreher Jr., 92, a titan in the Allen County farming community for nearly half a century, died Christmas Day at his home.
In addition to the multiple boards, committees and councils on which he served as both leader and member for years, Dreher was a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1996 to 2004.
Dreher farmed for 45 years before retiring in 2005.
Among his other duties were serving 14 years on the Kansas Farm Bureau Board of Directors and three years as Allen County Farm Bureau president. He also served extended periods on the Allen County Fair Board, Allen County Soil Conservation Service, the Allen County Planning and Zoning Board, the Kansas Beef Council and the Farm-City Days Committee.
He also worked for 23 years as an official for high school and junior college football and basketball games.
Aside from an eight-year stretch as a child, Stanley and his family called Allen County home.
He enlisted in the Army Air Force while still in high school, serving as an aviators cadet during World War II. He also was called to active duty in 1951 during the Korean War, but received a 100-day delay in order to harvest crops, and was not recalled.
Dreher is survived by his wife of 66 years, Maxine, two children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Drehers full obituary appears on Page A2.
