Duane Charles Dreger

DUANE CHARLES DREGER was born July 5, 1943, the son of Paul and Martha Dreger (nee Peterson) and the eldest child of his three siblings. He was raised on the family homestead west of Ebenezer without any electricity or winter road ploughing. The family had to pitch in with everything on this mixed farm of grain, hay, beef and milk cattle, chickens, turkeys, multiple gardens, anything to generate food or income during that time. Duane helped his uncles on their neighboring farms as he got older and this helped to shape the man and farmer he was to become.

Experiencing trapping, hunting and fishing, also nurtured a love for the outdoors. In 1959 Duane moved to Yorkton, finishing high school to graduate from Yorkton Regional High in 1961. He then worked in the meat processing industry in Yorkton, Saltcoats, Kamsack and Saskatoon, working as a meat cutter and manager of retail counters. In 1965 his work focus took a new direction as he took a mining job in Thompson, MB to work as a laborer at International Nickel Co. After a short time, he followed employment to Estevan, SK., where he joined Thompson Drilling Ltd. as a Roughneck. He worked his next five years B.J. Hughes Services and it was during this time, he met his future wife, Darlene Perpeluk at the local A&W. With her being from the Melville area, they got along immediately. They married in 1968 and a year later, were blessed with their first beautiful daughter.

Knowing that a more stable life needed to be created, Duane enrolled at SAIT in Calgary, achieving his diploma in Petroleum Engineering Technology, majoring in Production Engineering. Duane and Darlene purchased their first home in Calgary, where they experienced the mountains, enjoyed camping, snowmobiling and skiing with their friends. After a few years with Husky Oil in Calgary, Duane and his young family moved to Regina to be closer to his roots and at the time, a booming oil industry in Saskatchewan. His career with Sask Oil and Gas Corporation, turned Wascana Energy, spanned from 1975 until 1994. During these years, Duane longed for the farm life he was raised on as a child, and purchased his first quarter section of land west of Balgonie, SK with his youngest brother, Darryl. Eventually this would lead to Duane finding and purchasing his own homestead south east of Balgonie, SK, where he and Darlene would eventually raise their four daughters, Delmyra, Darscelia, Dawn and Diane. Duane eventually became a full-time farmer, acquiring more acres as the years continued. He began with older equipment that was eventually updated as the years continued and saw his own homestead of mixed farming of swine, cattle and grain become a steady income and steady amount of work for himself, Darlene and their girls. Duane did his best to fit in day fishing trips, enjoying the valley lakes with his boat, and watching sports. Big game hunting of past, became trapping moles around his farm acres.

Duane left his farm earlier than he wanted to, but gracefully entered his last years experiencing the care and skills of care aides and nursing staff at the Villa in Emerald Park, SK and the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina. Visits from his daughters, family and friends brought him smiles while his three grandchildren brought him delight. Duane passed away March 21, 2025 at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre surrounded by loved ones.

Duane will be remembered for his hard work, intensity and dedication to providing for his family, along with his love of fishing, hunting and curling. Duane is predeceased by his parents, Paul and Martha (Peterson) Dreger, brother Glen, infant sister, Myra, and beloved uncles and aunties.

He leaves to mourn and celebrate his life, his loving wife, Darlene (Perpeluk); his four daughters: Delmyra (Fred) Skutar of Pritchard, BC; Darscelia of Saskatoon, SK; Dawn (Robert Hurford) of Penticton, BC. and their children Kacey, Josie and Evan Hurford; Diane (Kirk Morin) of Victoria, BC; siblings Lois (Stan) Hiller; brother Darryl (Beth) Dreger and their families; In-laws Sharon (Hanson) Dreger; Eddie and Dolores (Perpeluk) Pilipow; David and Penny (Bates) Perpeluk and their families; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Duane will be laid to rest at Ebenezer Baptist Cemetery to be close with his relatives.

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