Father ‘Jake’ Dreher remembered as ‘an example of a robust spirit’

By Tim Wenzl

Diocesan Archivist

GREAT BEND—Father Jacob J. "Jake" Dreher, 86, died Jan. 11, 2004 at Central Kansas Medical Center.

The Most Reverend Ronald M. Gilmore presided at the funeral at St. Patrick Church, Great Bend Jan. 14. He was assisted by Fathers Reggie Urban and Gerald Hammeke at the altar. More than 20 priests concelebrated the liturgy. Burial was in St. Joseph Cemetery, Liebenthal.

In his homily, Bishop Gilmore described Father Dreher as a person "who plunged ahead and moved straight forward." He compared Father Dreher to the Prophet Isaiah, who without reluctance, said, "Here I am take me."

"Father Dreher was an example of a robust spirit. We give thanks to God for the priest he was to so many communities across the diocese."

Father Dreher was born in Liebenthal, March 17, 1917, the son of J. Philip and Mary Rohr Dreher. He was the youngest of 13 children. He attended grade school at St. Joseph’s School, Liebenthal. He attended St. Joseph’s Military Academy, Hays, for high school and two years of college. He took his Philosophy and Theology studies at Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis.

Father Dreher was ordained by the Most Reverend Christian H. Winkelmann in the chapel of the Immaculate Conception Convent, Great Bend, Sept. 18, 1943.

His first assignment was assistant pastor at St. Mary Cathedral, Wichita, on Sept. 27, 1943. After only 13 months, he was given his first pastorate at Mother of God Church, Oswego. On Dec. 16, 1946, he was named pastor of St. Mary, Moline, where he served less than two years before being transferred to St. Joseph, Offerle, with St. Mary, Hodgeman County, as a mission.

In 1955 he became pastor of St. Anthony, Fowler, where he served for 10 years. During his tenure there, a new rectory was built and the church was extensively renovated. Much of the furnishings of the latter were the products of Father Dreher’s personal skills as a carpenter and a metal craftsman.

Father Dreher also served as pastor or administrator of the following parishes: St. Michael, La Crosse; St. Joseph, Scott City; Holy Family, Odin; St. Joseph, Beaver, and St. Catherine Dubuque. Father Dreher retired to Great Bend on July 2, 1991. He celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood Sept. 18, 2003.

Father Dreher was a craftsman who enjoyed carving and making clocks. His timepieces always included symbolic and ornate carvings. He created more than 125 clocks and sold 68 when he moved from the rectory at Odin.

In addition to his parish assignments, Father Dreher served the diocese in the following positions: diocesan building committee; diocesan consultor; diocesan pastoral council; priests’ senate, and diocesan priests’ trust fund.

Survivors include one sister, Helen Albert of Mount Vernon, Kan.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by six brothers, Vincent Dreher, Anton Dreher, Frank Dreher, Lewis Dreher, Rudolph Dreher and Phillip Dreher; and six sisters, Catherine Herrman, Anna Koechner, Sister Mary Phillip, Theresa Dreher, Clara Dreher and Agatha Schuckman.

"Father Dreher said that he’d take a look at it and with a few simple straps of leather he solved the problem. My crozier hasn’t been wobbly since.

"A couple of days ago, I was looking through Father Dreher’s file and discovered that he’d done something similar for Bishop Forst, Bishop Gerber and Bishop Schlarman. He probably would have helped Bishop Franz too, but I suspect they were making better croziers then.