Nancy Drefke, 86, of Marcus joined her Savior on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Her funeral service was Wednesday, May 27, at Peace Lutheran Church in Marcus. Burial followed at Marcus Amherst Cemetery. Services were entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Marcus. Visit www.fischfh.com.
Nancy Ann Peterson was born on July 7, 1939, in Sioux City the daughter of John and Gertrude (Viken) Peterson. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Nancy's family lived in Sioux City, Denver, Colo., and Rinard, Archer and Marcus. She graduated from Marcus High School in 1957 just before the family moved to Santa Monica, Calif., where Nancy worked at Santa Monica Bank. After returning to Marcus, she worked at Farmers State Bank.
On Aug. 31, 1962, Nancy and Max Lloyd Drefke were united in marriage at Faith Lutheran Church in Marcus. They raised their children on the family farm, which was designated a Century Farm in 1993. Max and Nancy had a grain and livestock operation and especially enjoyed raising and showing quarter horses. Nancy was the behind-the-scenes coordinator for food, show clothes, registration, photographs and record keeping. She cherished the memories from those times spent together as a family.
She and Max enjoyed dancing from the time they began dating until they were nearly 80 years old (when their knees gave out)! A special dance celebrated their 40th anniversary with a live big band comprised mostly of musicians they had met from the Air Force band. Max and Nancy traveled thousands of miles to watch their children and grandsons play in concerts and at Iowa State games. They attended countless Air Force band performances, even traveling all the way to Italy.
Nancy was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church, where she served in Ladies Aid and often helped with Vacation Bible School. She was a long-time election worker and member of the neighborhood Birthday Club. Nancy and Max volunteered for many years in the Grains, Fruits, and Vegetables Department of the Marcus Fair. She loved family gatherings, taking pictures of everyone, playing cards (especially crazy games of solitaire) and giving lots of hugs. In her later years she enjoyed scenic drives hoping to see deer, eagles and other wildlife.
She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Donna Drefke of Polk City; LuAnn and Brian Miller of Marcus; and Kenneth and Lisa Drefke of Poquoson, Va.; grandson Brian Drefke and great-grandson Bryson Drefke of Madrid; brother John “Bud" (Sandy) Peterson of Hamilton, Ill.; sister Diane (Keith) Grage of Gregory, S.D.; Virginia “Ginny” (Steve) St. Amand of Grand Junction, Colo.; Janet Kelly of Sioux City; brother-in-law Dr. Ray (Ann) Drefke of Marcus; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by Max, her husband of nearly 60 years; her parents; her husband's parents Delmer "Slim" and Madge (Barnes) Drefke; her stepfather Dale Lynn and stepbrother Jim Lynn; her infant brother Richard James Peterson; and her sister and brother-in law, Barb and Paul Jorgensen.
