Lorena M. Drish-Runyan

After a long and fulfilling life, Lorena Drish-Runyan, 101, of Rock Island passed peacefully on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, November 20, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Rock Island. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2023, from 2:30 to 5:00 pm at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island, with a rosary to be recited at 2:00 pm. Burial will be in Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Memorials may be made in care of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Rock Island. Lorena was born on May 30th, 1922, near Wayland, Iowa. She was the oldest of 11 children born to William and Vera (Marshall) Stockman. She started school in a one room schoolhouse, riding her pony to school every day. During the depression they were very poor. She helped when she could with her father’s large garden, where they planted vegetables, berries, apples and more. She also helped her mother with baking, making seven loaves of bread every other day. If they ran out of bread, they bought it at the store three for 25 cents, she thought it tasted like angel food cake. In the summers, she went to her grandparents’ farm to help with milking the cows and other various chores, which included hay threshing and driving the horses. Her grandfather farmed with horses as he lost a hand in the corn grinder and did not want to purchase a tractor at the time. In 1942, she married the love of her life, Virgil Leo Drish and they had six children together. He preceded her in death in 1957 from lung cancer. She worked hard to keep the family together, taking in ironings as there was no state aid or food stamps at the time. She started working at Francis Willard School when the youngest child started school in 1962. In 1967, she then went to work at the Rock Island Arsenal in weapons command as a supply cataloger in ARRCOM. She retired from the Rock Island Arsenal in 1985. Lorena went on to marry Robert Rohde in 1968, and he passed away in 1976. In 1988, she married Jack Runyan, and he preceded her in death in 2014. She and Jack spent over 22 years wintering in Texas. They also both participated in the Host Program, helping children learn how to read. Lorena traveled to every single one of the 50 states in her lifetime. After retiring, she went to doll and craft shows with her sister, Arlene. She was a great seamstress and her hobbies included sewing and embroidery. She loved spending time with her family, especially going to all the kids’ and grandkids’ games and activities. She was proud of all of them. Lorena was very sociable and loved playing games and going to the casino. She loved cards and bingo, especially going to the Moline Activity Center to play Euchre. Lorena also enjoyed dancing at the COL Ballroom in Davenport. She was always happy to see anyone stopping by for a visit and loved cooking and baking for her family. In earlier years, she belonged to various clubs, including Black Hawk Hiking Club, Tops, YWCA, and the Red Hat Ladies Society. She loved her brothers and sisters and all of her family dearly. Those left to cherish Lorena’s memory include her sisters, Sandy (Guy) DeShong, Boone, IA and Roberta Little, Des Moines, IA; children, Christine (Bob) Johnston, Milan, Jim (Debbie) Drish, Milan, Bill Drish, Rock Island, Joni (Terry) Griffin, Taylor Ridge, and Tom (Jami) Drish, Tennessee; daughter in law, Marlene (Cis) Drish; 20 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and special friend, Carol Drish. Lorena was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; infant brother, William Oscar, brothers, Bill, Jerry, and Kenny; sisters, Ruth, Esther, Arlene, Juanita, and Donna; son, Joe Drish, and his daughter, Debbie Drish; granddaughters, Angie Gillette, Susan Robinson, and most recently, Cynthia Schlegel. We would like to thank the girls at Silver Cross Nursing Center in Rock Island and Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf for all the love and care they gave our mother, God Bless You.

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