1936
Donald
2010
Donald Dressler
July 29, 1936 — October 15, 2010
DONALD GENE DRESSLER
Donald Gene Dressler was born July 29, 1936 in Iola, KS to Paul Eugene Dressler and Velva (Paugh) Dressler.
He graduated from Iola High School in 1955 where he played basketball and was Student Council President his senior year. He attended Pittsburgh State University on a basketball scholarship. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science of Civil Engineering degree and later, in 1986, he earned a Masters of Engineering degree from the University of Kansas.
Don worked for U.S. Steel in Gary, Indiana; Havens Structural Steel in Independence, MO; Atlas Chemical in Joplin, MO; Imperial Chemical Company, Newark, DE and Pasadena, CA. He holds several copyrights and an US Patent. The family moved to Leawood, KS in 1973 where he worked for Cutter, Haver, Lockhart (now Bayvet) in Shawnee, KS. He started his own business in 1975, Dressler Consulting Engineers, Inc. where he was still serving as President. Don was a member of various professional organizations including: American Society of Civil Engineers, American Concrete Institute, Prof. Engineers in Private Practice, KC (past president), American Arbitration Association (Honorary), Kansas Cavalry (Ambassadors for Kansas) and the US Green Building Council. He was also a registered professional Engineer in Kansas, Missouri and Texas.
Don married the love of his life, Lou Krause Dressler, June 1, 1958 in Iola, KS. They had 52 treasured years together and in 2008 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Lake of the Ozarks surrounded by family and friends. Don and Lou made The Lake of the Ozarks their home, and cherished the time they shared together there .
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Dennis “Joe” Dressler, his mother-in-law and father-in-law Bill and Maude Krause.
Don is survived by his wife and three children, Darrin Dressler of Kansas City, MO; Kristin Pierson and husband Matt Pierson of Nashville, TN; and David Dressler and wife Holly of Olathe, KS; along with four grandchildren, Abigail and Dalton Dressler; Harrison and Sam Pierson; sister, Donna Good of Winter Park, FL; sister-in-law Diane Dressler of Topeka, KS and brother-in-law Bill Krause and his wife Sharen Krause of Bonner Springs, KS. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Don was a kind, strong, and gentle man who was so very proud of his family. He was loved and admired greatly by his family and the many friends he made over the years. He will be dearly missed. His legacy is that his spirit will live on in all of us.
The arrangements are being coordinated through D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel. The family would like to share memories, stories and celebrate Don’s life during a visitation from 4-6pm on Tuesday, October 19th at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, Kansas, 66210. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the KSU Foundation, c/o The Don Dressler Memorial Fund, 2323 Anderson Ave., Manhattan, KS., 66502 for the Kansas State Engineering School.
Donald Gene Dressler was born July 29, 1936 in Iola, KS to Paul Eugene Dressler and Velva (Paugh) Dressler.
He graduated from Iola High School in 1955 where he played basketball and was Student Council President his senior year. He attended Pittsburgh State University on a basketball scholarship. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science of Civil Engineering degree and later, in 1986, he earned a Masters of Engineering degree from the University of Kansas.
Don worked for U.S. Steel in Gary, Indiana; Havens Structural Steel in Independence, MO; Atlas Chemical in Joplin, MO; Imperial Chemical Company, Newark, DE and Pasadena, CA. He holds several copyrights and an US Patent. The family moved to Leawood, KS in 1973 where he worked for Cutter, Haver, Lockhart (now Bayvet) in Shawnee, KS. He started his own business in 1975, Dressler Consulting Engineers, Inc. where he was still serving as President. Don was a member of various professional organizations including: American Society of Civil Engineers, American Concrete Institute, Prof. Engineers in Private Practice, KC (past president), American Arbitration Association (Honorary), Kansas Cavalry (Ambassadors for Kansas) and the US Green Building Council. He was also a registered professional Engineer in Kansas, Missouri and Texas.
Don married the love of his life, Lou Krause Dressler, June 1, 1958 in Iola, KS. They had 52 treasured years together and in 2008 celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the Lake of the Ozarks surrounded by family and friends. Don and Lou made The Lake of the Ozarks their home, and cherished the time they shared together there .
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Dennis “Joe” Dressler, his mother-in-law and father-in-law Bill and Maude Krause.
Don is survived by his wife and three children, Darrin Dressler of Kansas City, MO; Kristin Pierson and husband Matt Pierson of Nashville, TN; and David Dressler and wife Holly of Olathe, KS; along with four grandchildren, Abigail and Dalton Dressler; Harrison and Sam Pierson; sister, Donna Good of Winter Park, FL; sister-in-law Diane Dressler of Topeka, KS and brother-in-law Bill Krause and his wife Sharen Krause of Bonner Springs, KS. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Don was a kind, strong, and gentle man who was so very proud of his family. He was loved and admired greatly by his family and the many friends he made over the years. He will be dearly missed. His legacy is that his spirit will live on in all of us.
The arrangements are being coordinated through D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel. The family would like to share memories, stories and celebrate Don’s life during a visitation from 4-6pm on Tuesday, October 19th at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, Kansas, 66210. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the KSU Foundation, c/o The Don Dressler Memorial Fund, 2323 Anderson Ave., Manhattan, KS., 66502 for the Kansas State Engineering School.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Dressler, please visit our flower store.