• strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
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  • strict warning: Declaration of views_handler_filter::options_submit() should be compatible with views_handler::options_submit($form, &$form_state) in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/handlers/views_handler_filter.inc on line 0.
  • strict warning: Declaration of views_handler_filter_node_status::operator_form() should be compatible with views_handler_filter::operator_form(&$form, &$form_state) in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/modules/node/views_handler_filter_node_status.inc on line 0.
  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.
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  • strict warning: Non-static method view::load() should not be called statically in /home/glencoenews/www/www/sites/all/modules/views/views.module on line 906.

Richard J. Droege, 78, of Houston

Richard J. Droege

Richard John ‘Dick’ Droege, 78, of Houston, Texas, passed away Thursday evening, Nov. 29, at Park Manor Nursing Home in South Houston, Texas.
A funeral service was held Monday, Dec. 3, at South Park Funeral Home in Pearland, Texas, with cremation at a later date. Pastor Alan Taylor from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Galveston, Texas was the officiating clergy.
Richard John Droege was born Aug. 25, 1940 to Albert and Evangeline (Wolff) Droege in Litchfield, and grew up in Plato. He was baptized at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hamburg Sept. 8, 1940, by Rev. H. J. Baumann, and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Plato April 11, 1954, by Rev. E. A. Schuett. Mr. Droege attended Plato Public School, St. John’s Lutheran Parochial School, and Glencoe High School, graduating on May 28, 1958.
As a youth, he enjoyed setting traps, shooting his BB gun, and collecting baseball cards. He always wondered what his mom did with those cards. Mr. Droege was an avid fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and a batboy for the Plato baseball team. He spent many summer days at the “minnie crick” (Buffalo Creek), and had the distinction of being the first (and only) boy in Plato to get a free Mohawk haircut at Archie’s Barbershop … a not-so-pleasant surprise for mom and dad.
Mr. Droege’s first job was an early morning paper route. He also worked at T.F. Miller and Nyhammer’s folding egg cases, and on some area farms during high school. He enjoyed music, learning to “chord” on the piano, and spending time “up north” deer hunting with his dad, grandpa, and Droege uncles and great-uncles. He was the proud owner of an Indian Motorcycle.
Mr. Droege entered the U.S. Army after high school, serving from 1958 to 1960. Upon returning home from Ft. Sill, Okla., he convinced cousin, Chuck Pinske, and buddy, Terry “Pokey” Pulkrabek, to move with him to Oklahoma City. Chuck and Pokey returned home after a few months. Dick stayed, and married Nadine Wade July 1, 1961. They moved to Mankato in 1962, and Mr. Droege attended Mankato State College, graduating Aug. 20, 1965 with a bachelor of arts degree in accounting. He was an accountant and CPA and part-owner of an accounting firm, and several other companies that sold tractor trailers and RVs.
Mr. Droege married Carolyn Royal Aug. 26, 1988, in Houston, Texas, becoming a stepfather to her sons, John and Robert Royal. He and Carolyn moved to a cabin on the intercostal waterway in Crystal Beach, Texas on the Bolivar Peninsula following retirement. It was while living on the Penninsula that Dick and Carolyn became members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Galveston, Texas. They moved back to Houston after losing the cabin and most of their belongings following Hurricane Ike in 2008.
Mr. Droege loved to fish, play golf, and was a licensed pilot, at one time landing at the Glencoe airport to surprise his parents. He trained, owned, and raced thoroughbred horses. He likely spent too much time studying the stock market, and always felt that he was just one step away from figuring it all out.
He spent his later years as a loving and doting grandfather to three grandchildren. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He enjoyed spending his time with friends, family and people, both in Minnesota and Texas, telling jokes and swapping stories.
When he was no longer able to live at home, Dick became a resident of Park Manor Nursing Home in February of 2018. He passed away Nov. 29, 2018 from Parkinson’s disease. May he rest in peace.
Dick is survived by his wife, Carolyn Droege, and stepson John Royal of Houston, Texas; stepson, Robert Royal and his wife Jamie of San Marcos, Texas, and by their children, his loving grandchildren, Zachary, Hannah, and Rachel; sister, Sue Hansen and her husband David of Prior Lake; nephew, Chris Exsted and his wife Jodi, and their children Alex, Isabelle, and Max of Savage; aunt, Elizabeth Droege of Glencoe; other cousins, relatives, and friends.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Evangeline Droege.
South Park Funeral Home of Pearland, Texas handled the arrangements. Visit www.southparkfunerals.com online to send condolences.