Bob Drilling, age 87 of Lake View, IA, passed away on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake, IA. Robert Dale Drilling was born on February 2, 1936, on a farm in Odebolt, IA, to parents Leo and Dorothy (Roeder) Drilling. He was one of six children. Bob grew up in the Wall Lake/Lake View area where he attended school. He was a devout Christian and member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wall Lake.
On April 4, 1957, Bob married the love of his life, Delores Ann Frazier, after having met at a dancehall in Arcadia, IA. The two had only known each other for a few weeks before eloping to Minnesota where they would marry, Bob twenty-one years young and Dee sixteen. Upon returning home, a church wedding was planned. On September 25, 1958, Bob was drafted into the United States Army. He was stationed in Germany. Dee would soon join him overseas and once she arrived, had a great story to share. It seems that once she arrived in New York to stay overnight before leaving for Germany, keep in mind she was just a teenager, she discovered the hotel she thought was reserved was indeed not. She hadn’t a clue what to do and was visibly upset. Dee heard a voice in the background say he’d get her taken care of. Turns out the voice was that of the great Bob Hope. He and his wife treated her to dinner that night and got her a room. Dee would always remember this and could hardly wait to tell her husband.
Once Bob was discharged from the Army, he and Dee moved back to the Lake View area. They then moved to Gary, IN, where Bob worked in a local steel mill. While in Gary, they were blessed with a son, Darwin Dale Drilling. Bob and his family then moved to Omaha, NE, where he worked for the Kellogg Company until retiring in 1991. After retiring, Bob and Dee moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ, where they would stay for about ten years before returning to Lake View. Once back “home’ they rebuilt a family cabin on the east side of the lake.
Bob was a pretty straightforward man. Even though he was frugal, his heart was huge when it came to giving. Bob loved the feeling it gave him to be able to give. He loved his family more than anything and it’s pretty safe to say that the moment his granddaughters were born, from then on, they had his whole heart. Bob was so proud of them.
Bob was a bit of a car enthusiast. Over the years he owned several and one of his favorite places to be was out in his garage with his cars. He and Dee were in several car clubs together. They formed a few in the Omaha area and were presidents of the Nebraska-land Thunderbird Club as well as the For-Merc-Linc Club. He enjoyed working on cars just as much as he loved driving them. Bob was great at figuring things out and was never afraid to take on new tasks. He was a very hard worker and did whatever it took to get things done. He lived a great, full life. One that will leave all who knew and loved him wonderful memories and stories to tell for many years to come. He will be missed dearly.
Survivors include his son, Dale Drilling of Apple Valley, MN; granddaughters Kylie Drilling of Glendale, AZ, and Erin (Dr. Brett) Begley of Omaha, NE; step granddaughter Mekenna Piispanen of Apple Valley, MN; sister Alice Werkmeister of Lake View, IA; close cousin John (Teresa) Drilling of Lake View, IA; special friend Ardelle Rohde of Lake View, IA; many other extended family members and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Dorothy Drilling; wife Delores Drilling; daughter-in-law Amanda Drilling; and siblings Elsie Souder, Carol Flynn, Jim Drilling, and Larry Drilling.
