Alan Philip Drake

Dad is survived by his cherished wife Lois, sister Carol Bird (née Drake) and children-Jonathan and Susan Drake, Mark and Amy Ingersoll (née Drake), Alan and Colleen Drake and Rich and Allison McCollister (née Drake). He was also the grandpa of Mark James Ingersoll II (deceased), Devin Drake, Bryce Ingersoll, Gillian Drake, Connor Drake, Gwendolyn Drake, Grant Ingersoll, Jason Anderson, Steven and Christine Anderson, Danny and Ronda Anderson, Michael and Alli Zurek and Lauren Ingersoll; and great-grandpa of Isla Anderson and Scarlett Zurek. Dad was a brother-in-law to Richard and Caroline Braun, Rev. Eugene A. Beyer (deceased) and Linda Beyer, Rev. Dr. Arthur H. Beyer and Charlotte Beyer. He is also survived by many nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.

Visitation will be on Saturday, November 7 from 4-8pm at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Road in Livonia. In state at 2 pm and Service 3 pm on Sunday November 8 at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, 14175 Farmington Rd. in Livonia.

Memorial may be given to the Christ Our Savior Lutheran Music Ministry.

Dad was born at home at the corner of Warren and Middlebelt Rds. (today a 7-Eleven marks the corner) on December 15, 1931 in rural Garden City. The early days of the Drake house saw it at work as a diner known as "Duck in the Drake's". Dad was the middle child of Merl G. Drake and Susan Drake (née Jobson) of Detroit. Alan's older brother Robert "Bobbie" passed away in 1944, but he is survived today by his younger sister, Carol Bird (née Drake). He was baptized on April 17, 1932 by Pastor Albert Tong at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Detroit. Dad was later confirmed on May 20, 1945 by Pastor Eugene Friedrich at St. Matthew Lutheran Church (now located in Westland.)

By all accounts Dad was a very active child and young man adventuring out in the wild across the Rouge River and on farms around his house-most notably Roddenberg farm across Middlebelt Rd. Dad was a Boy Scout and put those skills to the test exploring the UP during his high school days in and old beat up car with his buddies, Bob Fowler and Wendy Hughes. He was also a rather good pianist having taken lessons from his Mom (Susan) who was a church musician and piano teacher. His Dad, Merl, worked for Kerr Dental in Detroit. Dad was always involved in singing in the church choir from a very early age.

Dad attended Lowrey High School in Dearborn where he lettered in track specializing in the 440-yard race. Upon graduation in 1949 he enrolled at The University of Michigan and earned a BA in Biology in 1953, teaching credentials in 1956 and later, a MA in Education. It is at the University of Michigan that Dad met Mom at the University Lutheran Chapel after an introduction by Mrs. Win Scheips (wife of Pastor Alfred Scheips, Missouri Synod campus pastor). A very competitive game of "Hearts" ensued between Mom and Dad (he took notice) and the rest is history. After graduation, Dad volunteered for the draft (ending his college deferment) and served from 1953-1955 during the WWII Occupation of Germany. First, in Munich with the 169th AAA of the 43rd Infantry Division as a medic and then as a chaplain assistant to Lt. Col (Pastor) Lemke in the HQ Battery of the 5th Infantry Division in Augsburg attaining the rank of Corporal. Lt. Col Lemke worked real hard on encouraging Alan to become a pastor.

Lois J. Beyer and Alan P. Drake were married by Pastor Arthur F. Beyer at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lincoln Park on October 8, 1955. They knew each other for 65 years-60 of those years in marriage. Dad was hired by the Dearborn Public Schools in 1956 and taught for 36 years. He taught at Salina, Bryant and Stout Junior High Schools until he moved to Edsel Ford High School where he remained (most of his career) as a beloved horticulture (his passion) and biology teacher until his retirement in 1992. Many of his former horticulture students went on to study biology, horticulture and landscape architecture while others started their own landscaping or gardening businesses.

He was a wonderful man.