Drexel Kay (Weck) Van Every

Van Every, Drexel Kay (Weck) age 93, of Minneapolis, passed away on April 6, 2016 at Walker Methodist/Minneapolis. She was born January 12, 1923 in Pipestone, Minnesota and grew up in Slayton, Minnesota, a proud prairie girl. She met Harold Van Every at the University of Minnesota, they married July 27, 1942 in Carson City, Nevada. Together they lived at various Army Air Corps bases in Spokane, Sacramento, Oklahoma City, and Colorado Springs, before Harold was sent into action in Europe during World War II as a B-17 bomber pilot. While Harold was overseas, Drexel attended a physical education college in Chicago and worked for the Chicago Park Board running after-school and summer programs for city youth. She also endured many months of uncertainty while Harold was Missing In Action before being notified that he was alive in a German POW camp. After the war Drexel and Harold resettled in Minneapolis in 1946. Drexel's "work" was volunteering and she approached it with a career-like energy. Starting with the American Red Cross--in honor of their care of POW soldiers--Drexel began as a Disaster Relief Worker, driving a truck to outstate emergencies, caring for victims and their families. She went on to be a 60-year Red Cross volunteer involved in many aspects of the Minneapolis Chapter. As late as 2008, at age 85, she was giving a weekly talk on behalf of the Red Cross at Fort Snelling to soldiers shipping out. Red Cross was just the start of her volunteer work. Drexel was a surgery lounge volunteer at the University Minnesota hospitals for over 30 years, assisting families at their time of need. She performed the same duties Glenwood Hills Hospital. Upon adopting two children from the Children's Home Society of Minnesota, Drexel joined the board, where she served as president in the middle of her nearly 50 years there, and was particularly proud of her work on the Little Red Stocking campaign. She was also a member of the DAR, PEO, WOMHS, Eastern Star & Esther circle at Knox Presbyterian Church. If volunteerism was Drexel's work, then horses and riding were her passion. She served on the Minnesota Horse Council for many years and helped initiate the annual Minnesota Horse Expo. With daughter Kay, she was involved in many years of horse shows and she rode on numerous weeklong charity trail rides for Camp Courage & Camp Friendship, the Itasca 100-year Wagon Train, as well as more rigorous pack trips in the mountains of Wyoming into her 70s. She rode weekly until age 88, until she could literally no longer get on a horse. Drexel was equally comfortable in her jeans, boots and cowboy hat or classily dressed for a downtown board meeting. Drexel also loved music, particularly Big Band, Sinatra and Dixieland jazz. She also enjoyed attending Gopher football and basketball games with Harold & family as well as Vikings games (although she remained a lifelong Packer fan.) More than anything, Drexel was a uniquely spirited lady who would help anyone in need. Nobody who knew her will forget her outspoken sense of humor, giving personality, and ever-present smile. A wonderful wife, mother, grandma, friend and involved citizen, she will be remembered and missed by many. Her 65-year marriage to Harold was a blessing. Drexel was preceded in death by her loving husband Harold & her sister Karen Lea Rausenberger. She is survived by her son Dale Van Every (Josephine), daughter Kay Van Every-Zallar (Kevin) & grandsons David Buck and Joshua Denn. Memorial Services will be held on Friday, April 22, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Walker Methodist Health Center Chapel. (3737 Bryant Ave So, Mpls) with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Private interment. Memorials to American Red Cross Minneapolis chapter, Knox Presbyterian Church Minneapolis, or the Children's Home Society of Minn. Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

Tributes

Drexel Kay (Weck) Van Every

April 6, 2016

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203