Edward S. Drab

Edward Stephen Drab, age 101, of Phlox died April 24, 2013 at his home under the care of a wonderful group of home care ladies for the past year and LeRoyer Hospice in his final days. He was born August 13, 1911 in Chicago, IL, a son of the late Joseph and Stephania (Letko) Drab. As an infant in the year of 1912, Ed and his family moved to Strassburg, where the family homestead still remains. Ed helped out on the family farm and worked in the CCC camps in Elcho and Crivitz, as a blacksmith, to help out the family with an income. He was drafted in 1943 into the 91st division. Ed began his service as a buck private, and rapidly advanced to the rank of staff sergeant as an armorer artificer. The skills that Ed had learned from his father who was a Hungarian army officer allowed him to advance rank quickly. In 1944, the 91st division deployed to Europe, while Ed remained stateside to train troops in the 76th division in Medford, OR. The young soldiers of the division were sent to fight in Europe. Ed was older and honorably discharged. He then took a job in Milwaukee, working on equipment used for desalting water for drinking. He worked there for 2 years, during which time he left his employment for a 2 week period to go north for deer hunting season as they would not allow him time off for hunting. He returned to Milwaukee following the hunt and took a job at Peerless Product Co., where he worked for many years until the company changed hands. Ed then took a job at Schneider Fuel and Supply, where he worked in accounting for almost 20 years. He retired in 1976, and returned to the family homestead in Strassburg. In the early 1980s, he and his brother Charles started to build their new house there. In 1992 his brother passed and his sister Rose moved in. Ed claimed he didn't know how to cook. Ed enjoyed dancing at the Eagle Club and Mayflower Dance Hall, hunting, gardening, fishing, yard work and the great outdoors, also writing and reciting his wonderful poems. Ed is survived by his sister Rose Drab, and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Joseph and Charles. Visitation will be Sunday from 5:00-7:00 PM at Strasser-Roller Funeral Home with a parish wake service at 6:45 PM. Visitation will also be held on Monday from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at St. Joseph's Holy Family Catholic Church in Phlox. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 AM at the church. Reverend Charles Hoffmann will officiate along with Deacon Tom Hartman. Interment will be in St. Joseph's Holy Family Catholic Church Cemetery.