Roy "Butch" Drake

Roy "Butch" F. Drake, age 85 passed away on June 5, 2026 at his home in rural Viroqua.

He was born on October 26, 1940 to Sylvia L (nee Allen) and Lem Drake. He was married to Mary L. Reget on December 17, 1960 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse, WI.

Roy attended West Salem High School.  He served in the Navy from 1958-1961.  He was on the U.S.S. Peterson which was involved in Operation Deep Freeze and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Roy worked for his stepfather at Culpitt Roofing from age 15 until age 70.  He was proud of his work and put on many standing seam steel roofs.  He enjoyed being outdoors; hunting, fishing, gardening in Wisconsin and prospecting for gold in Arizona during the winter. He liked playing cards and crokinole with friends and family.  He appreciated his mentors on Belgium Ridge; Harold C. Hansen and Leonard Klahn.

Roy helped coach youth hockey with Doc Day and Jim Jeffry.  He also volunteered at the Lake Havasu Balloon Festival.  Roy also helped build the Havasu Gold Seekers campground.

He is survived by his children: Lisa (Don) Sterrett of Prairie du Chien; Michelle (Ray) Krause of Viroqua; Mark of Sparta and Troy (Linda Coey) of Middleton.  His grandchildren: Angela (Joe Ouradnik) Riedeman of Alton, IA; Shannon (Wyatt) Drake-Buhr of Fitchburg; Jerome (Erika) Krause; Jordan (Patricia) Krause of Mauston; Kenzie (Aaron Froehlich) Drake of Kansas City; Zach (Jordan Kleman) Drake of Milwaukee; Erik (Bryanna) Drake of Sparta and Haylee Drake of Wisconsin Rapids; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Roy is also survived by his stepsisters: Norma (Keith) Schmig of West Salem and Marilyn (Willis) Swenson of Red Wing; his stepbrother Wayne (Peg) Culpitt of Sparta; brother-in-law John (Jane) Reget of La Crescent, sisters-in-law, Sue Reget of Madison and Jeanne Baures of La Crosse; many nieces and nephews; very special friends: Linda (Scott) Mustio, Gary and Joyce Unseth, Joe Clark, Brad Stafslien all of Viroqua; Arnie and Cindy Sorenson of Lake Havasu City and Flora Sharpe of Vernon B.C.

Roy was preceded in death by his wife, Mary L. Drake; son Charles T. Drake; son-in-law Peter (Bud) Solverson; parents: Lem Drake, Sylvia and Joseph Culpitt; parents-in-law Esther and Gregory Reget; sisters: Darlene Seely and Linda Popp; stepbrother Royal Culpitt; and his sisters-in-law: Sandra Holter; Elaine Weisbecker; Judy Lakin; Ellyn Lee; brothers-in law: George Schmidt Sr, Gerald Holter, Henry Reget, Richard Weisbecker, Stephen Morehouse, and David Reget. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to: the Viroqua Hockey Association (viroquathunder.org); the Desert Hills Fire Department, 3989 London Bridge Rd, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86404 (deserthillsfire.org) ; the Havasu Gold Seekers, P.O. Box 3281, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86405 (havasugoldseekers.com).

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. at Roth Family Cremation Center and Funeral Services with Charlie Fisher officiating.  A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until time of service.  Burial to follow at the Belgium Ridge Cemetery.

Roth Family Cremation Center and Funeral Services is serving the family.  

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