Eleanor June Droste, 81, of Waterloo, died at Ravenwood Nursing and Rehab Center on Saturday, March 31, 2007, following a short illness.

June was born July 6, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of Gerald “G.W.” and Freida Rehm Graham. She graduated from Waterloo East High School in 1943.

June married LaVern N. “Red” Droste on May 20, 1944, in Waterloo.

She worked at Rath Packing Co. for a short time. Eleanor helped build and manage the 150-lot mobile home park Woodland Terrace. When she and Red moved in, they were just renting a spot for their 19′ trailer, but she helped build it into a small city where they lived for over 60 years. She was also co-owner of The Sound Room/Red’s CB along with her husband.

June ran the family and was a major influence in her sons’ lives. She enjoyed sewing, making most of her own clothes (that did not look handmade). She also enjoyed gardening, especially her rose bushes and cherry tomato plants. She was very fond of her cat Freckles and time spent with Red at their winter home in Texas. In her younger years June loved to dance with Red, whenever they took the dance floor everyone watched. She enjoyed following Red with his racing and keeping picture albums of their exploits.

June is survived by her husband Red, son Rich (Pam), son Steve (Roxy), all of Waterloo, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren: Stewart (Danielle) and their children Lindsey and Cameron; Brad (Jean) and their children Emily and Katie; Michelle and her children Dylan and Alyson; and Tyler. She is also survived by sister Doris Dietz of Waterloo, brother Robert (Sharon) Graham of California, and longtime business partner Dave Graham.

Eleanor is preceded in death by brothers Donald, Kenneth, and Eugene Graham.