Nadine Dreager

Nadine Krohn Dreager joined her parents in Heaven on September 1, 2023 at her home in Council Bluffs, Iowa after bravely battling a long list of maladies. She was born to William and Lillie (Dethlefs) Krohn on March 27, 1936 on the Henry Krohn farm northeast of Avoca, Iowa in Fairview Township.

Nadine attended a one-room school, Monroe #9, Northeast of Avoca, Iowa, through first grade. The family then moved to a farm six miles north of Atlantic, Iowa. She attended a one-room school, Pymosa #2, through eighth grade. She graduated from Atlantic High in 1954.

She and the love of her life, Darrell L. Dreager were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa, on September 14, 1957. The moved to Council Bluffs, where they raised their two children, Mark and Kimberly, and were married 66 years. Nadine was a member of Broadway United Methodist Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Nadine was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was energetic, an avid reader, made extensive genealogy notebooks for her family, and landscaped their one-half acre yard with her beloved hydrangeas and hibiscus plants. Growing up on a farm, Nadine always had a dog for companionship.

Her friends were friends for lifetime. Her greatest interest was traditional country music from the golden age of this music. Johnny Cash's music was always her absolute favorite.

She was very active in supporting her children's school activities. She was a Den Mother for their son's Cub Scouts, as well as helping with their daughter's Girl Scouts.

She was a Henry Doorly Zoo docent for 16 years. Besides giving tours and taking slides to schools, she was a reporter for the Docent Newsletter. Her greatest dream came true when she and husband Darrell, along with eight other docents from the zoo, traveled to Kenya for a photographic safari for 16 days in 1982-1983. Her favorite of many memories of the trip was riding horseback in herds of giraffe and zebra on New Years Day, 1983.

Nadine went to work as a receptionist at Lewis Central High, the school her children attended. Later, she was an administrative assistant to coaches Rick Mathews and Rod Carlson at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.

After that time, Nadine became the promotion director at Midlands Mall in Council Bluffs. There, she used her organizational skills to plan and direct promotions, including the popular country music productions. She organized the first antique show at the mall.

Finally, Nadine found her perfect place to work and dress up every day in high heels, Northern Natural Gas Pipeline in Omaha. She was a STA (short term assistant), which allowed her to continue to give tours at the zoo. After eight years, Northern was acquired by Enron. She and Darrell moved to Kingwood, Texas for job transfers. They were in Houston with the company 12 years. She worked there as an administrative assistant. They moved back to Council Bluffs after retirement.

When Nadine was eight years old, she listened to live radio entertainer, Jimmy Morgan, billed as "The Man From Old Kentucky". His music stayed in her heart all of her life. When their children were school aged, Nadine and Darrell traced and located Jimmy in his beloved Kentucky. Jimmy and Nadine planned Jimmy's dream of having an annual reunion for all live radio entertainers and their fans once more. The amazing number of fans showing up for the first show at Westfair in Council Bluffs in 1977 proved that an annual reunion was called for. NADINE DREAGER'S GOLDEN AGE OF RADIO REUNION soon moved to Shenandoah, Iowa. There radio fans traveled from many states to hear their favorite entertainers from the past. Most notable was Patsy Montana, "America's Cowboy's Sweetheart. Patsy stayed in the Dreager's home for every reunion held and for nearly all of her performances in Midwestern country venues. They became very close friends and Nadine and Darrell ran her international fan club for 13 years.

Through Nadine's many lifetime activities, she realized her dreams. We will miss her love and enthusiasm dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Lillie (Dethlefs) Krohn.

Survivors include her husband, Darrell; sister, Karen (Ron) Mehsling; daughter, Kimberly (Rick) of Omaha, Nebraska; son, Mark (Lori) of Council Bluffs; granddaughter, Rebecca Mahlberg and grandson, Nathan Dreager of Council Bluffs; great-granddaughters, Amaiah, Addie; and great-grandson, Axel of Council Bluffs; nephew Bradley (Anita) Mehsling of Gretna, Nebraska and their children Alicia, Tayler, Whitney, Payton, Kevin, Grace and Emily; niece, Michelle (Jim) Meyers of Howell, Michigan and their children Kaitlyn and William.

Funeral service is at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home on Friday, September 8, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be during the hour prior to the service. Interment is in Graceland Cemetery in Avoca, Iowa. Memorials are suggested to Broadway United Methodist Church or Midlands Humane Society.