Olivia Drewes

Olivia Drewes, 72, of West Union, Iowa passed away Good Friday morning, April 14, 2017 at Arlington Place Memory Care in Oelwein, Iowa.  Arlington Place was her home away from home for 14 months and 14 days.  

Olivia Thelma, the daughter of Aubrey and Mable (Christensen) Guyer, was born Feb. 28, 1945 in West Union, Iowa.  

She was baptized and confirmed at West Clermont Lutheran Church in Clermont, Iowa.  

She graduated from North High School in 1963. 

Olivia was united in marriage with Steven Drewes on July 10, 1965 at Zion Lutheran Church in West Union. To this union three children, Dawn, Gregory, and Stephanie, were born.

Olivia devoted her life to caring for her family, preparing meals, sewing and mending clothes, healing scrapes and scratches, and making sure all of the needs for her family were being met.  

In addition, Olivia provided in-home daycare for dozens of local families for over 30 years. These children, from infant to upper elementary age, were loved like her own. Parents always knew their child would receive the attention and care that they themselves would provide. Many of these children are now adults and still speak of Olivia and the memories of her. 

Olivia’s singing, joy in making children happy, and times spent with her children, sisters and friends endeared her to all.

Olivia was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church and the WELCA. 

She had also been a member of the West Union Civic Club.

Olivia is survived by her husband of 51 years, Steven; three children, Dawn (Garry) Creed of Center Point, Iowa; Gregory (Julie) Drewes of Waverly, Iowa; and Stephanie (James) Penning of Chicago, Illinois; six grandchildren, Bethany Creed (Brantley Garner), Kyle (Krista) Creed, Tyler Creed (Gabrielle Zimmer), Hannah Creed (Alec Matthew), Sean Drewes, and Daniel Drewes; siblings, Patty Hofland of Jacinta, California, Angie Andrews of Palo, Iowa, Rodney (Doris) Guyer of Clermont, Iowa, Ethan (Vivian) Guyer of Postville, Iowa, Betty Benjegerdes of Postville, Iowa, John (Ellen) Guyer of Clermont, Iowa, Gary Guyer of Oelwein, Iowa, Kay Behnken of Monona, Iowa, Wanita (Harry) Pape of West Union, Iowa, Rebecca (Bob) Keehner of Luana, Iowa, Rachel (Gary) Woodson of Elgin, Iowa, and Cindy (Dale) Bilden of Clermont, Iowa, and sister-in-law Violet Guyer of Clermont, Iowa.

Olivia was preceded in death by her parents, Aubrey and Mable Guyer; her brother, Doug Guyer; and sister, Arabella Kleppe; and brothers-in-law Sig Hofland, Carl Andrews, Alan Behnken, and Paul Benjegerdes.

Funeral Services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church in West Union.

Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, West Union, Iowa helped the family with arrangements.         16u16