Warren Leigh Drake, 89, of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away on November 16, 2025.

Warren was born in Sterling, Nebraska to Alma and Harold Drake on October 4, 1936. He attended Tecumseh High School, and graduated in 1955. His early life saw a long passion for roller skating, working many years at a portable roller rink traveling around rural southeastern Nebraska. As a self-taught freestyle and tap roller dancer he was regularly featured nightly for many years in live solo performance. He was also featured and top prize winner in live televised competitions in Lincoln.

On August 8, 1955, Warren said goodbye to a skating career when he said hello to an equally rewarding career where he excelled in a variety of positions in communications at Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Company for the next 42 years until his retirement. In addition to many other advanced education opportunities, in August 1994 he earned Lincoln Telephone Company’s Certificate of Achievement in Data Communications Training.

Warren married his childhood sweetheart, Loretta Lempka, also of Tecumseh, November 1, 1957. Warren and Loretta enjoyed ballroom dancing, road-hunting, visiting family, wintering in South Texas, as well as an ongoing very active fulfilling church life.

He was deeply enriched by and enjoyed active long time contributive involvement at church, not only in congregation (right up through his final Sunday) and stewardship with his wife, Loretta, but also helping with countless improvement and maintenance projects, cultivating ongoing meaningful relationships. In 2008, Thrivent Financial honored Warren as Messiah Lutheran Church Volunteer of the Year.

Warren savored many years of autumn and winter days with family hunting upland game birds around southeastern Nebraska with cherished field dogs. He loved fishing too, among many fun family trips to Harlan County Reservoir.

Warren is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Loretta; son, Michael; parents, Alma and Harold Drake; sisters Kathleen Spier, Carol Hultgrien; brothers Roland Drake and Morris Drake; and nine dear brothers- and sisters-in-law.

Warren is survived by his daughter, Deborah Drake Stevenson and her husband Roger of Lincoln and South Texas; son, Randy Drake of Denver, Colorado; sister, Rona Taylor of Longmont, Colorado; many dear nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors along Silver Ridge Road, Garland Street, and members of Faith Lutheran and Messiah Lutheran congregations.

Video recording of Funeral service is available at https:// www.youtube.com/@Messiah-Lincoln/streams and was held at Messiah Lutheran Church, in Lincoln Friday, November 21.

The family extends their gratitude to the staff at The Landing at Williamsburg Village Assisted Living and Tabitha Long-Term Care at Harbor House.

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