John Drake, 69

John R. Drake, 69, of rural Pocahontas died on Sunday, July 26, 2015 at his home.

A graveside funeral services was held on Friday, July 31 at Green Cemetery. Young Funeral Home in Greenville was in charge of arrangements.

He was born Sept. 17, 1945 in rural Carlyle to Verba H. and Irene M. (Gross) Drake. He married Glenna F. Black on June 7, 1969 in Edwardsville. She survives.

Mr. Drake grew up in the Beaver Prairie area and graduated from Breese High School. He moved to the Millersburg area in 1973.

He had worked at Broadway Tire and Battery in Highland. He had also worked construction and farmed. He worked for 30 years driving for Highland Red-E-Mix, retiring in 2007. After his retirement, he concentrated more on farming. He was a member of Alton Teamsters Local 525

Other survivors include children, Richard L. Drake of rural Pocahontas, Terri L. (Shane) Keller of rural Pocahontas, Michael A. Drake of rural Pocahontas, Rebecca S. (Mike) Lenz of Florissant, Mo., and Tammy A. (John “JD”) Wesselmann of rural Carlyle; grandchildren, Zach Lenz, Nathan Lenz, John David Wesselmann, Kelsie Wesselmann, Alexis Wesselmann and Gabriel Keller; and sisters, Marie I. (Ted) Schrage of Pocahontas, Edith L. (Bob) Korte of Highland and Mae L. (husband Jimmie Kinnard) Jacober of Pocahontas.

He was preceded death by his father, who died on Feb. 2, 1984; his mother, who died on Feb. 25, 1987; a sister Doris I. Dannaman, who died in July 2010; a brother-in-law, Don Jacober, who died on Feb. 25, 1993; and a nephew, Ryan Schrage, who died on Sept. 16, 2014.

Memorials may be made to the family.

This story was originally published August 3, 2015 at 9:15 AM with the headline "John Drake, 69."