ROBERT DEWAYNE DROKE, 74, of Portage, passed away Saturday, July 30, 2011 at St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart. Dewayne was born February 7, 1937 in Chester County, Tennessee to Oliver Droke and Hazel (nee Bennett) Droke. He had been a longtime Northwest Indiana for approximately 55 years. Robert was a US Air Force Veteran serving during the Korean War Era. He was a retired millwright from Bethlehem Steel in Burns Harbor.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara, 3 children: Bill (Tammy) Coleman of Portage, Chuck (Donna) Coleman of Midway, TN and Cynthia (David) Bruns of Lake Station, 5 grandchildren: Amber (Derrick) Milenkoff, Robert (Rachel) Coleman, Crystal Bruns, Beth Ann Coleman and Candice Bruns, 1 great granddaughter, Noel Coleman, 2 brothers: Ray (Tammy) Droke of Jackson, TN, Oliver L. Droke of Ripley, TN, 6 sisters: LaVerne Haynes of Ripley, TN, Illa Mae Matlock of Brownsville, TN, Frances Lee, also of Brownsville, Sue Conrad of Ripley, TN, Wanda Droke of Brownsville and Kay (Mike) Hill of Atoka, TN and a host of nieces & nephews. His parents, daughter, Sharon Coleman and brother, Harvey Droke, preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 10 am at Rees Funeral Home, Olson Chapel, 5341 Central Avenue, Portage. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Portage, Indiana. Visitation will be Tuesday from 2-4 & 6-8 pm at Rees Funeral Home, Olson Chapel, 219-762-3013 or online at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.