Arden Henry Droge, 89, of Seneca, Kansas, died at 4:20 AM Thursday morning, November 17, 2011, at Life Care Center in Seneca, where he had been a resident since last month.

Arden was born on March 19, 1922 on the Droge farm 14 miles north of Seneca to Henry August Droge and Gertrude Elizabeth (Berdau) Droge. He attended Prairie Grove School in Nemaha County, a one-room country school. He graduated from Seneca Public High School in 1940.

Arden entered active military service on October 3, 1942 and was always proud to have served in the U.S. Army 691st Field Artillery Battalion. He was deployed to the European Theater of Operations from August 1944 to January 1946.

After World War II, Arden returned to Seneca where he married Bessie Louise Sausser on July 10, 1948. They made their home in the area, where Arden continued farming. Their first child, Elizabeth Ann, was born on September 4, 1949. After moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado for employment, their first son, Michael Henry, was born on June 13, 1951. The family returned to the Seneca area in 1952, where Richard Lee was born on October 10, 1954.

In 1959, the family moved to Kansas City, where Arden was employed on the Hallmark Farm near Leawood, Kansas until he retired in 1987. Arden and Bessie returned to Seneca, where they worshipped at Friedens United Church of Christ in Bern. Arden’s grandfather, Conrad Berdau, was one of the church founders.

During retirement, he and Bessie enjoyed their many friends and remaining close to their family.

Arden is survived by Bessie, his wife of 63 years, and all three of their children, Elizabeth and husband Michael Wells of Carrollton, Texas; Michael and wife Molly of Parkville, Missouri, and Richard and wife Susan of Lakewood, Colorado; and three brothers, Charles Droge of Snohomish, Washington, John Droge of Waldorf, Maryland, and Harry Droge of Council Grove.

He is also survived by three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The grandchildren include Elizabeth’s two daughters Christine Nicole and Tracy Elizabeth, and Richard’s daughter Bonnie Elizabeth. Grandchildren are the three children of Christine and husband Rod Stuart — Lauren Alysia, Garrett Wade, and Cole Michael; the two daughters of Tracy and her husband Tommy Cloud — Katelyn Elizabeth and Rebecca Charlotte; and the two sons of Bonnie and husband Travis Huggins — Cade Michael and Henry Patrick

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Clarence, Emil, Leslie, and Leonard Droge; and three sisters, Helen Rhodes, Margaret Kirk, and Eleanor Duello.

The funeral service for Arden will be held at 2 PM Saturday, November 19, at the Friedens United Church of Christ on K-63 Highway near Bern. A graveside service will follow at the Seneca City Cemetery in Seneca.