Linda J. Dreessen

Linda Jean Dreessen was born on October 9th, 1941, in Hannibal, Missouri to Leo and Evelyn Janvrin. She departed this life on January 21st, 2024, in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 82 years. She was preceded in passing by her parents and her brother Tom. She is survived by her husband of 63 years Robert (Bob) Dreessen, son Douglas and longtime companion Susan Dirkschneider, son Bruce and daughter in-law Michelle, daughter Cara, and grandchildren Cole and Zoe. 

Linda spent her childhood years growing up in Hannibal, Missouri. She received her formal education in Hannibal and graduated from Hannibal High School in 1959. She went on to study to be an X-ray technician at Levering Hospital in Hannibal. She met Bob through a mutual friend who worked with him at the Missouri State Highway Department. Bob and Linda were married on June 18th, 1960. Bob and Linda moved to Omaha, Nebraska where Linda continued work as an X-ray Technician at Methodist Hospital while Bob earned his professional engineers license. The couple moved to Papillion, Nebraska in 1961 after the arrival of their first child, Douglas. In 1962 they welcomed their second child Bruce, and in 1963 they greeted their third child Cara.

While focused on raising their three children Linda, a stay home mom, loved cooking for her family. She enjoyed taking gourmet cooking classes and went on to teach cooking classes. When the children were older, Linda worked as a sales associate at a high-end clothing store in the Regency Fashion Court. Throughout her life she was an avid reader and accumulated a personal library of over 800 books that she was happy to lend to her friends. Linda enjoyed all genres of music; save rap. She was an avid Cornhusker men’s basketball fan and frequently attended NCAA tournaments. Bob and Linda joined the Friendship Force, a worldwide exchange program that introduced people from different countries to each other.  While in the Friendship Force and on private trips with friends, Bob and Linda traveled to exotic locations around the world, among them were Italy, China, Nepal, India, New Zealand, Turkey, Cypress, Kenya, The Netherlands, Australia, Germany, Canada, Mexico, England, and Scotland to name a few.  As Friendship Force Ambassadors, they hosted guests from, Japan, Mexico, Russia, and other countries at their home in Papillion. Linda had a passion for art and collected pieces from all the countries she visited. As a patron of local and regional art fairs, she acquired pieces that piqued her interest. She relished collaborating with architect Gary Bishop as she was fully involved in designing the couple’s current home at 1901 Wood Bridge Circle in Papillion. 

Linda once told Michelle “I’ve had a wonderful life; I wish I could live it again.”