Obituary

Service: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 - 11 a.m. in Young Family Funeral Home, Kendallville Chapel

Calling: Monday, December 10, 2012 - 2-8 p.m. in the funeral home. Masonic Lodge service at 7:30 p.m. **************************************************

Owen Lee "Punk" Drerup, 74, of Kendallville died Friday, December 7, 2012, at 7:55 p.m. in Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.

He graduated from Waterloo High School in 1956. He then attended Ball State University and graduated in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was a member of Lamda Chi Alpha while at Ball State.

He served for four years in the U.S. Air Force ROTC. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1961 to 1963.

In the summer of 1960, he began working in the family business at Reliable Tool & Machine Co., Inc. in Kendallville. He was still active in the business which is known today as Reliable Production Machining and Welding and served as Chairman of the Board.

He was a member of Kendallville Elks Lodge 1194, Kendallville Moose Lodge 1301, American Legion Post 86, Kendallville Masonic Lodge No. 276, Mizpah Shrine, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Fort Wayne, and Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Owen was recognized as a Kentucky Colonel by the state of Kentucky.

Punk enjoyed fishing, hunting, and operating heavy equipment. Mostly, he loved attending his grandchildren's activities and being with his family.

He was born June 4, 1938, in Garrett to Woodrow Wilson and Iris Marie (Hontz) Drerup. On June 17, 1961, in Kendallville he married Isabelle Mae "Susie" Charles. She preceded him in death on August 24, 2000.

Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Charles O. "Chuck" and Christy Drerup of Kendallville; a daughter and son-in-law, Deborah S. and Tom Walterhouse of Kendallville; five grandchildren, Luke Drerup, Bo Drerup, Olivia Drerup, Lydia Walterhouse, and Abby Walterhouse.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 11, 2012, at 11 a.m. in Young Family Funeral Home, Kendallville Chapel, 222 South State Street, Kendallville with Rev. Dr. Dan Barker officiating. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

Honor guard services will be provided by Kendallville VFW Post 2749 and Rome City American Legion Post 381.

Honorary pallbearers will be Art and Sylvia Charles, Howard Seidel, Judy Evers, Bob and Marilyn Wiant, Tom and Joann Burke, Jerry and Marcella Boman, Eileen Parker, Lauren and Karen Hanes, Tim and Julie Pease, and Bess Miller.

Active pallbearers will be Chuck Drerup, Christy Drerup, Tom Walterhouse, Debbie Walterhouse, Luke Drerup, Bo Drerup, Olivia Drerup, Lydia Walterhouse, and Abby Walterhouse.

Calling is Monday, December 10, 2012, from 2 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home. A Masonic Lodge service will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Preferred memorials are to Kendallville Elks Lodge 1194, the East Noble Athletic Department, or to the Kendallville Masonic Lodge No. 276.

View a video tribute after Monday or send condolences to the family at www.youngfamilyfuneralhome.com