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David W. Dreisker was born December 12, 1937, in Peoria, IL, the son of Eleanor Margaret Pein and Alexander August Dreisker. He died December 6, 2017, just six days short of his 80th birthday.
Dave's father, Al, was transferred by Phillips Petroleum Company to Bartlesville in 1942 where Dave and his younger sister Jeanine, attended Garfield Grade School, Central Jr. High and College High School. A great story teller, Dave's memories of childhood and school days in the 40's and 50's were a history of post WWII in Bartlesville. Trick-or-Treating at Uncle Frank's grand home, mowing lawns for 25 cents, working at the Osage Theatre where his duties as Assistant Manager included being the toilet mechanic and the feeding of the alligators who wintered in the theatre's sub-basement while waiting to be part of the Hill Top Drive-in's 'zoo' in the summers and also clerking at The London Shop. During College High days, he played tennis, went to Boys State, participated in DeMolay, hung out at Johnson's Drive-in and rode shotgun during numerous races from Johnson's to Bishop's Cafeteria in Tulsa (record time: 37 minutes. Why?: Who Knows?) After High School graduation in 1956, Dave spent the first of four glorious summers working for Phillips in Southern Louisiana. He worked as a deck hand on vessels supplying Phillips' off-shore rigs and fell in love with the culture and cuisine of Cajun Country.
He attended the University of Oklahoma where he became a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, enjoyed legendary parties and the lectures of legendary professors: Dr.s Berenda, Bell, Biddle and especially, Dr. J. Clayton Feaver. His college days culminated with his marriage to Joan Killingsworth of Duncan, Oklahoma, officiated by Dr. Feaver, on June 5, 1960 and a degree in Political Science.
His career with PPCo began in the St. Louis Division in 1961 where he was a sales trainee. His first assignment was city sales in Peoria, IL, his birthplace, followed by district sales in Paducah, KY and Falls Church, VA. In each location, he collected life-long friends and stories that could fill a book.
His family grew as he and Joan packed and moved a dozen times. Son, Jon Eric 'Jed' was born in 1961 and daughter Anne Kristin 'Kris' in 1963.
In 1969, Dave was transferred to the International Dept and the family packed up once again, moving to Lagos, Nigeria. Talk about stories! Almost 5 years in Lagos were like walking into a National Geographic Magazine and the friendships made there with Nigerians and other 'expatriates' lasted for the rest of his life.
In June, 1974, Dave was transferred once again to Tokyo, Japan. He landed on his feet, loving his work and the country from Day 1. His children grew up in the diverse, warm 'gaijin' community in this fascinating country where both Jed and Kris graduated from The American School in Japan..
Returning to Bartlesville in 1981, Dave's career at Phillips took a new direction, first in licensing and on to a special project that became Provesta Corp., a subsidiary of Phillips from which Dave retired as Vice President in 1994. The day he retired, he opened Dancing Bear Ingredients, a food ingredients brokerage serving the food business in the Mid-South and Southwest which continues today under his son, Jed.
The Dancing Bear years, building his business, welcoming three grandchildren, Michael and Charlie Burnett and Yayoi Dreisker were among the best years of his life. Times at the Grand Lake house, 'The Other Edge', with the grandkids and his buddies, Schriber, Nagel, Wallen and McCourt, delighted him.
Health problems that plagued the last decade of his life were daunting but he never gave up. He was a fighter to the end, a hard worker and a warm and loving man who will be missed so very much by his family and friends, whose only regret is that didn't write that book we kept urging him to do.
He is survived by his wife, Joan, his son Jed (and Sheri) of Edmond, OK; his daughter Kris (and Mark Usdin) of Jacksonville, FL; his sister Jeanine (and Ron Moss) of Statesboro, GA; grandchildren Michael Burnett of Tampa, FL; Charlie Burnett of Jacksonville, FL; Yayoi Dreisker of Tokyo, Japan; Nephew Steve Moss of Statesboro, GA and niece Anne Moss-Wood of Akin, SC.
Family and friends celebrated his life on Sunday, December 10, 2017.
Finally, as Dave so often advised, quoting that sage, Blandark Sharkey,
"Keep in the shade; and tell the truth when you can."
Rest In Peace, Dave.
Published in Examiner-Enterprise from Dec. 17, 2017 to Jan. 16, 2018
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