Michael P. Dreiling

Private family services for Michael P. Dreiling, 84, of Lawrence, Kansas will be held at Ramsey-Yost Funeral Home. Mr. Dreiling died on July 5, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family. His remains will be interred in the Dreiling Family Plot in Junction City on August 6, 2022. Mike was born on July 1, 1938 in Junction City, Kansas, the son of Dr. Daniel D. and Felicitas Dreiling. He graduated from Maur Hill Prep School in 1956 and earned his bachelors of science degree from St. Benedict’s in Atchison, Kansas in 1960. He enrolled in post graduate courses at Kansas State University. Mr. Dreiling enlisted in the Air National Guard of Kansas and the Reserve of the United States Air Force on August 27, 1962. Mr. Dreiling rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and he was honorably discharged from the Reserves on August 26, 1968.

After serving his country, Mr. Dreiling enrolled in the Washburn University School of Law in 1964 and graduated with his juris doctorate in 1967. Upon graduation, Mr. Dreiling accepted an offer to work for the Kansas Insurance Commissioner’s Office. Mr. Dreiling married Judy Singer in Topeka on June 22, 1968. Together, they moved to Liberal, Kansas in October 1968 where he began a 32-year career in the practice of law with the law firm of Vance, Hobble, Nordling, Neubauer, Sharp, McQueen and Dreiling.

During his time practicing law in Liberal, he was the Seward County Campaign Chairman for Robert J. Dole, first as a United States congressman and later as a United States senator. Governor Bennett appointed Mr. Dreiling to the Kansas Highway Commission where he served for multiple terms.

In July 2002, he and his wife, Judy, moved to Lawrence to be closer to family. In October of that year, he accepted an offer to join the law firm of Riling, Burkhead & Nitcher in Lawrence as Of Counsel where he practiced law for a decade until his retirement.

Survivors include his wife, Judy, of the home; son Michael P. Dreiling, Jr. of Prairie Village, Kansas; son Timothy A. Dreiling (Michelle Park) of Lawrence, Kansas; daughter Megan Bergen (George) of Leavenworth, Kansas; two sisters, Mary Agnes Rauh, Denver, Colorado, and Diane Vader (Joseph), Olathe, Kansas; three brothers, Daniel Dreiling (Beverly), New Orleans, Louisiana, Thomas Dreiling (Debi), Lenexa, Kansas, and William Dreiling (Linda), Springfield, Missouri. Mike was preceded in death by his identical twin brother, Patrick M. Dreiling in August 2020.

He is also survived by one grandson, Maxwell Dreiling of Lawrence, Kansas and 18 nieces and nephews. The family suggests in lieu of flowers one may make a contribution to the American Cancer Society or to a charity of the donor’s choice.