Martin Jerold, the son of Randolph and Edna (Kuecker) Drewis, was born September 23, 1944 at home in Tripoli, Iowa.  He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Evangelical Church in Tripoli.  He attended country school at Frederika #5 and graduated from Tripoli High School in 1962.  Martin served in the U.S. Army and the Iowa National Guard.  After high school he worked at Buhr Chevrolet in Tripoli.  In 1965 he started working for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa.  He retired from John Deere in 1993.  After his retirement, he worked for Dick’s Machine Shop in Tripoli and was currently driving a school bus for the Tripoli Community School District.  Martin was united in marriage with Sheryl Magnall and two children were born to this union.  They later divorced.  Martin was then united in marriage with Joan Westendorf on October 4, 1997 at Faith United Church of Christ in Tripoli.

            Martin’s death occurred Friday, December 18, 2009 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa, after a short illness.  He was sixty-five years old.  Martin was a member of Faith United Church of Christ and the Brandenburg-Krueger V.F.W. Post # 4013 in Tripoli.  He enjoyed fishing, camping, his new trucks, John Deere tractors, yard work, traveling, Daniel O’Donnell concerts, and spending time with his family and friends.

            Martin is survived by his wife, Joan of Tripoli; his mother, Edna Drewis of Tripoli; two children, Tim Drewis and grandchildren, Kennedy and Lincoln of Tripoli; and Juanita (Gabe McGowan) Nuss and grandchildren, Makenzie and Kelsey of Brandon, Iowa; five stepdaughters, Brenda Bloker of Elma, Iowa; Pamela Lienau of Greene, Iowa; Angela (Joe) Hodges of Manchester, Iowa; Tamara Pettit of Dows, Iowa; and Jayne (Rocky) Jones of Strawberry Point, Iowa; one stepson, Joe (Linda) Buehner of Manchester, Iowa; twenty-two grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; two sisters, Marian (Jim) Lampe of Plainfield, Iowa, and Marlene (Jerry) Snelling of Tripoli; one brother, Marvin (Trivona) Drewis of Tripoli; and many nieces and nephews.

Martin was preceded in death by his father, Randolph in 1990 and a great-niece, Brittany Lohmann.

 Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 23, 2009, at Faith United Church of Christ in Tripoli with Rev. Marilyn Sargent officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Fremont Cemetery in Tripoli.  Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 22, 2009, at Rettig Funeral Home in Tripoli and for one hour preceding services at the church on Wednesday.  Memorials may be made to Faith United Church of Christ in Tripoli or to the Tripoli Public Library.