Stanley E. Dreher, Jr., age 92, of Iola, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018, at his residence in Iola. Stanley was born April 27, 1926, in Iola, to Stanley E. Dreher, Sr. and Loretta (Whitaker) Dreher.
At the age of 6, Stanley moved with his family to New Mexico, where he attended grade school, grades one through eight, in Farley, N.M. His mother passed away when Stanley was 14, his brother Lyle was 12, and his sister Yvonne was 4. The family moved back to Iola to live with Stanleys grandparents, Homer and Ida Dreher. Stanley graduated from Iola High School.
Stanley enlisted in the Army Air Force while still in high school. He served as an aviators cadet during World War II and was discharged in late 1945. He then enlisted and served eight years in the Air Force Reserves. In 1951, Stanley was called to active duty during the Korean War. He received a 100-day delay in order to harvest crops, and he was not recalled. Stanley was a pilot and owned airplanes for many years.
Stanley and Maxine Brooks were married on Sept. 7, 1952, in Iola. They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this year. Stanley and Maxine continued Stanleys farming operation. He retired from farming in 2005.
Stanley served on many boards, committees, and councils as both leader and member for years. Stanley served 14 years on the Kansas Farm Bureau Board of Directors. He served three years as Allen County Farm Bureau president, 20 years as beef superintendent on the Allen County Fair Board, 18 years on the Board of Supervisors of Allen County Soil Conservation Service, 23 years as an official for high school and junior college football and basketball games, and 45 years in farming. Stanley served as chairman of the Allen County Planning & Zoning Board, he was a member of the Kansas Beef Council Executive Committee, and he served on the Farm-City Days Committee. Stanley was a member of the Kansas Livestock Association, American Soybean Association, and the American Legion.
Stanley was elected to Kansas House of Representatives, where he served from 1996 to 2004, with a 100 percent voting record in 1999.
Stanley loved to watch sports. He enjoyed being president of the Allen County Farm Bureau, grand marshal of the Farm-City Days, a Farm Bureau Master Farmer, and being involved with the American Legion. Stanley was especially proud of receiving the Kansas Farm Bureau Family Award.
Stanley was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lyle Dreher; and sister, Yvonne Percy.
Stanley is survived by his wife, Maxine, of the home; one son, Steven Dreher and wife, Janet, Iola; one daughter, Teresa Hays and husband, Paul, Sunrise Beach, Mo.; four grandchildren, Jason Dreher, Kristen Dreher, Kasey Hays Taul and husband, Johnnie, Stephanie Hays; five great-grandchildren, Taegan Taul, Parker Taul, Landen Hays, Brody Dreher, and Hudson James.
A visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church, immediately followed by a memorial service at 1:30 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 301 E. Madison St., Iola. Following the memorial service, inurnment with military honors will be in the Gas Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Iola American Legion Baseball, and may be left with Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Iola.
Condolences for the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
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