Willa M Drake

Celebration of Life Service for Willa M. Drake will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Stamford, Nebraska with Reverend Thalia Woodworth officiating. Interment will be held in the Orleans Cemetery at Orleans, Nebraska.

Willa Mae Drake, 68 years of age, of rural Alma, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, November 6, 2017 at her home southwest of Alma. She was born December 19, 1948 at Holdrege, Nebraska, the youngest of three children born to William "Bill" and Helen (Rosenbrock) Dunkhas of rural Stamford. She grew up on the family farm west of Stamford with her parents, and two sisters: Sharon and Susan. She received her education from Stamford Public School, and graduated from Stamford High School with the class of 1967.

She was joined in marriage to James "Jim" Drake on November 24, 1974, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Stamford. Out of this union came one son, Joshua on December 3, 1983. The couple would eventually settle on the Drake family farm, where Willa resided until her passing.

Willa was employed at the Treasurer's office in Harlan County until her retirement in the Spring of 2015. She enjoyed her job, and the friendships formed with the people she worked with throughout the years. Following retirement, Willa loved spending time with her grandchildren, as well as going to her great-nieces and great-nephews activities.

Of utmost importance in her life was her beloved family, and Willa was blessed to have them all with her shortly before, or at her side at the time of her passing.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Stuart and Eleanor Drake; and brother-in-law, Lowell Harm.

Those who will carry on her lasting memory include; her husband of 43 years, Jim Drake of rural Alma; one son, Joshua Drake and his wife, Tracie of Blue Hill, Nebraska; three grandchildren: Tucker, Kali, and Kase; two sisters: Sharon Harm of Oxford, Nebraska, and Susan Bose and her husband Jerry, of rural Orleans; and Minnie Mintzmeyer of Alma, who was like a second mother to her; along with a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives and countless friends.

Visitation will be held Friday, November 10, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Bauer-Torrey & Mach Funeral Home in Alma.

A memorial has been established in Willa's honor, and kindly suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Stamford; the Harlan County Health Clinic – Building Project; or to the Willa Drake Scholarship Fund that will be established to benefit the Harlan County 4-H.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com