Jean Marie Drewes, 90, of Brookville, IN passed away on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, OH.
Jean was born in Brookville on September 12,1933 to Ohmer J. and Verena Schwegman Kunkel, where she grew up on a farm with her many siblings, in the Klemme’s Corner community. She attended a one-room school house on Long Hollow Road, St. Peter grade school, where she was a cheerleader, and graduated from Brookville High School. Her least favorite chore was milking the cows, and her children heard about that often! Jean also worked at the Klemme’s Corner Grocery, Romweber’s Furniture in Batesville, and Valley Motors, Inc., in addition to being a homemaker.
On June 22, 1957, Jean married Richard L. “Dick” Drewes on June 22, 1957 at St. Peter Catholic Church, and they enjoyed over 64 years together, before his passing on April 29, 2022. She attended St. Peter Catholic Church, and then after her marriage became a parishioner of St. Michael Catholic Church. She was an excellent cook, with some of her specialties being fried chicken, chili, and homemade vegetable beef soup. She and her daughters volunteered for many years in the dining room at the St. Michael Parish Festival. In her younger years, she and Dick enjoyed going to the casinos. She also loved tending to her flowers, yardwork, watching the Bengals, IU and NBA basketball, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had an amazing knowledge of all of the teams and most of the players in the NBA!
Jean is survived by four children: Stephen (Judy) Drewes of Brookville, Diane Drewes of Indianapolis, Deborah (Joseph) Kaiser of West Harrison, and David (Stacey) Drewes of Cincinnati; eight grandchildren: Jennifer (Jesse) Graf, Brittany Drewes (fiancé Jimmy Blades), Brandon (Stephanie) Kaiser, Austin Kaiser, Derek (Kallen) Kaiser, Cody Kaiser, Jared (Kristina) Drewes, and Rachael Drewes; eight great-grandchildren: twins Jorja and Joslyn, Jovie and Jaxon Graf, Jacob Heinrich, Bailey and Griffin Kaiser, and Rory and Jasper Kaiser; three brothers: Orville (Delores) Kunkel of Sunman, IN, Virgil (Bernadine) Kunkel of Brookville, IN, and Ohmer (Jan) Kunkel Jr of Fayette, MO; one sister, Florence (Ralph) Lunsford of Brookville, IN, and four godchildren, Theresa Drewes Benkert, Elaine Kuntz, Sharon Drewes, and Cathy Kunkel Schuman. Jean was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Lester Kunkel, and three sisters: Marie (infant), Annette Kuntz, and Dorothy Purkey.
Friends may visit at Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home, 929 Main Street in Brookville on Saturday, November 4 from 8:30 am-11:00 am. The Rosary will be recited at 08:00 am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11:30 am at St. Michael Catholic Church in Brookville with Father Vincent Lampert officiating. Interment will follow in St. Michael Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael Church or Cemetery.
For more information, to send condolences, or to sign the online guest book go to www.cookrosengberger.com, The Staff of Cook Rosenberger Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Jean Marie Drewes.