Retired Kansas State Senator Leslie A. Droge, 90, of Bern, KS, died Monday evening, January 14, 2008, at his home.

Les was born August 3, 1917, in rural Nashau, MT, the son of Henry A. and Gertrude Berdau Droge. When he was 6 weeks old, the family came home to the Droge homestead north of Seneca. He attended the Allison School and then Du Bois High School for three years. He graduated from Seneca Public High School in 1936.

Les worked on his Uncle Albert Droge’s farm during the summer, and then in December 1936 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp in Seneca. In the fall of 1937, he enrolled at Kansas State University. Les played basketball for K-State, having established his skills at Seneca High School and in CCC Camp games. He graduated from K-State in May 1941, and the following month entered the U.S. Army, serving in the 82nd Airborne. In 1945, as a member of the 511th Parachute Regiment, he observed the signing of the Armistice agreement ending the war from a ship adjacent to the Battleship Missouri in Tokyo Harbor. He was discharged in 1947 and returned to the farm in rural Seneca. He remained in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.

In 1963, he was elected to the Kansas Senate, serving from 1964 to 1976, all the while continuing to farm. He chaired the Senate Committees on Agriculture and Military Affairs.

While attending K-State he met his wife, Lola F. Hubbard; they were married on January 26, 1941 in Leota, KS and celebrated 66 years together. Lola survives of the home.

Les was a member of Friedens Church, where he was a Sunday School Superintendent and served on the Church Council. He was a chairman for the Nemaha County Farm Bureau, serving as the State Membership Chairman, as well as being chairman of the local Farm Bureau. Les was also involved with the rural Prairie Grove District #65 School Board (Allison School) and the Bern Rural High School, serving as Board Chairman during the consolidation. He also served as chairman for the Extension Board of Nemaha County. Other organizational involvements included the Fankhauser Post #326 of the American Legion at Bern, the Retired Officers’ Association, the Reserve Officers’ Association, the Good Sam Camper Group, and Gideons International.

Les was well respected and cherished close friendships; he had a wonderful sense of humor. He had a great feel for the land and took pleasure in farming. Education was very important to Les. He took pride that all his children pursued higher education through college.

Survivors besides his wife Lola are his three sons, Dennis and wife Karen of Seneca, Douglas and wife Cindy of Montgomery, TX, and Duane and wife Bobbie of Eureka, KS; two daughters, Joann and husband Warren Freeborn of Concordia, KS and Beverly Droge of Ozawkie; four brothers, Arden and wife Bessie of Seneca, Charles of Snohomish, WA, Harry and wife Norma of Council Grove and John of Waldorf, MD; 12 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Clarence, Emil, and Leonard; three sisters, Helen Rhodes, Margaret Kirk, and Eleanor Duello; and an infant great-granddaughter, Hannah Freeborn.

The funeral service will be held at 11 AM Saturday, January 19, at Friedens Church in rural Bern. Military honors and pallbearers will be provided by the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Guard. Before the funeral service he will lie in state at the church from 9:30 AM. A private family inurnment will be held in the church cemetery at a later date. Family will meet with friends from 6 to 8 PM Friday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials may be given for the Leslie A. and Lola F. Droge K-State Ag Scholarship for Nemaha County.