Loretta M Drake

She grew up on a farm and went to country school through 8th grade, then moved to Tecumseh attending and graduating from Tecumseh High School. Her classmates said of her – “she was a live wire but never shocked anyone.” She spoke of many fond memories working as a car-hop at Denny’s Drive-in while in high school.

After high school graduation, Loretta moved to Lincoln with her best friend Nadine Lacy and became a long-distance telephone operator at Lincoln Telephone. She married her childhood sweetheart Warren Drake November 1, 1958.

Loretta and Warren had three children: Michael who went to be with Jesus at birth, Debbie who lives in South Texas and Lincoln with her husband Roger Stevenson and grand puppy Peaches; and Randy who lives in Denver Colorado where he enjoys playing and dancing to music any chance he gets, just like his parents.

Loretta was a stay-at-home mother for many years and then worked as a PBX operator at Gateway Sears, and Wesleyan University in Lincoln. She took great pride giving the first impression of her employer to customers over the phone by being the first friendly, smiling voice they heard. She was a member of the Lincoln Chapter of The National PBX Club, holding many offices including President.

Warren and Loretta enjoyed ballroom dancing, road-hunting, visiting family, wintering in South Texas. Loretta loved to try new recipes, visit the Lincoln Library for reading books, sending cards and letters, and gathering jokes she could share with anyone who was open to a good laugh with her.

She was a member of the Lutheran church (Faith Lutheran & Messiah Lutheran in Lincoln) where she enjoyed serving as a Sunday School teacher to children, singing in the choir, calling on home-bound members, making phone calls for various causes, serving as a greeter or food service at special events, and attending bible studies. She also volunteered her time at the Lincoln City Mission. Loretta regularly supported mission work financially and by corresponding with missionaries over-seas. Even with her hand tremors, her hand-written notes became her ministry the last few years of her life.

Loretta made friends quickly, cared deeply and loved freely. She lived a life of hope, many times rising above many life-threatening health problems and miraculously recovering from extremely difficult circumstances. Her faith in Jesus as her personal Savior and confidant in daily prayer shined brightly through the care in her voice, her smile and laughter. Her passion of lifting-up others through prayers, kind words of encouragement, cards, notes, texts and phone calls enriched her life and those she reached out to until the day of her death Friday, February 26, 2021.

Loretta is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Diane, her son Michael, and ten dear brothers and sisters-in-laws.

She is survived by her husband Warren who resides in Lincoln at The Landing at Williamsburg Village where they lived together and developed many caring relationships; daughter Debbie and husband Roger Stevenson; son Randy; brother Wayne (Bette) Lempka of Lincoln; sisters Pauline Bischoff and Linda Seeba of Omaha, Louise (Glen) McCoy of Missouri, Evelyn (Len) Klimiuk of Nevada, Marilyn (Bob) Walker of California; Sister-in-laws Rona Taylor of Colorado and Donna Drake of Lincoln; past dear friends and neighbors on Silver Ridge Road and Garland Street, members of Faith Lutheran and Messiah Lutheran, and deeply loved PBX sisters.

All memorial gifts may be given to Cancer Research and Messiah Lutheran Church. Memorial Celebration of Life in Jesus: Messiah Lutheran Church of Lincoln on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 11am followed by a luncheon at noon and committal at 2pm at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery.