Robert “Bob” Drefs, loving husband and father, transitioned peacefully to glory while at home with his wife and children Oct. 2, 2022. He was 93.
Bob was born and raised in suburban Chicago (Go Bears!). He was a big, boisterous, loud, opinionated and sometimes socially inappropriate guy and he never, ever met a stranger. After completing his required military duty, he had a brief career as a pitcher in minor league baseball. He then settled into an occupation of sales.
More importantly and what better defines him, however, was his passion for serving Christ by serving the community. Bob co-founded the Delavan Food Pantry, where he could be found distributing food nearly every Saturday for 35 years, finally stepping down at the age of 85.
He coordinated the Salvation Army bell ringers in the Delavan area for many Christmas seasons; delivered Meals on Wheels to local senior citizens; co-founded the Human Concerns Committee which meant basically being on-call 24/7 for many years to assist folks needing temporary housing, household items, etc.; he was active in his church as a lector, usher, organizing Cursillo retreats, leading in prayer of the rosary before Mass and in nursing homes where he also provided Communion to residents.
He continues to serve even in death as he chose to have his body donated for scientific research and education. Bob would tell you he hadn’t done enough.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Agnes Drefs, and by his siblings Edward, Leonard, and Irene (Holub). He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Susan (Kelleher); six children: Rebecca (Teena Carpenter), Michael (Mary Steffen), Matthew (Annette Jeninga), Andrew (Katie Seguin), Megan, and Peter; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren (with one more arriving soon!).
A funeral service will be held at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Delavan on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. with a time of visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Harold Johnson Delavan Food Pantry or to the Salvation Army.
