William Driessen, 94, Owatonna
William (Bill) Harland Driessen, 94, of Owatonna, passed away Sunday night, April 16, 2023, at the Owatonna Hospital.
Bill was born on Sept. 25, 1928 to William J. and Luella (Hoban) Driessen. He graduated from Faribault High School in 1946. After graduation, he worked for the Nutting Truck Company as a machinist. Bill enlisted into the Minnesota National Guard and his unit was activated for duty and sent to the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in May 1952 as a Sergeant with a Purple Heart as a result of injuries sustained during the war.
Bill married Joan M. Buskovick on Sept. 9, 1950. They were united in marriage for 69 years and had four children: Elizabeth, Mark, Jane, and Mary.
He worked as a machinist at Owatonna Tool Company for 40 years and retired in 1990.
Bill was a gentle hard-working man. If you knew Bill, you knew he was a strong man, both physically and in his faith to God. He rarely complained about his permanent injuries from the Korean War, even when the complications from those injuries caused him to slow down and limit his mobility later in life.
He was an outdoorsman and loved to hunt, fish, hike and be out at the farm. He spent a lot of time elk hunting in Colorado and summers in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Driessen; brother, Roger Driessen and his parents.
Bill is survived by his children Beth (Paul) Newman, Mark (Diane) Driessen, Jane (Curt) Craig and Mary (Duane) Velzke; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sisters, Sharon Driessen-Sherman (Benedict Sherman) and Darlene Ross; and many nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed by all who were a part of his life.
The family is thankful to the entire staff at the Benedictine Living Community who provided wonderful care to Bill during the past 3 ½ years.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Bill to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Benedictine Living Community or Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Friday, April 21, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev. Jim Starasinich presiding. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral mass with a rosary being recited at 9:45 a.m. Bill will be buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Steele County Funeral Unit. For more information or to leave a message of condolence, go to www.megercares.com.