By Laura Kroger
NKyTribune staff writer
Irmaleen Drees is often called the First Lady of Northern Kentucky. It’s partly because she reigned as the longtime wife of the late homebuilder and community leader Ralph Drees. But she primarily earned the title because her zest for life in Northern Kentucky is contagious.
The unpretentious 91-year-old still drives. While she avoids interstates, it’s not unusual to see her car carefully tooling down Buttermilk Pike or Dixie Highway while she’s waving to Northern Kentuckians whether she knows them or not.
Everyone is a friend. Those familiar with her as the Drees Company matriarch realize she has been so much more than a housewife: a rock of support behind her husband Ralph, a loving mother of five adult children, an athlete, a longtime Drees payroll specialist, hospital volunteer and dear friend to many.
“Just call me Irma,” she always insists.
She is one of a handful of wives remaining who worked behind the scenes as their husbands built the area into an economic powerhouse over the past several decades through home building and commercial developments.
Born July 16, 1934, Irma was raised on a farm three miles past the city of Alexandria.
“It was an idyllic way to grow up. We grew tobacco, tended a large vegetable garden, loved our peach, walnut and apple trees, and never forgot to milk the cows twice a day,” she recalls with her sharp memory.
That childhood instilled in her a profound sense of responsibility that has stayed with her to this day. It also taught her to cherish what you have, especially family.
Irma attended St. Mary’s followed by Campbell County High School, graduating in 1952. Then it was time to try big city life.
“During those years there was no bus line from Alexandria to downtown Cincinnati. So I lived at a boarding house called Esther Hall for Women over on Ninth Street. It was just two blocks from my job at Cincinnati Phone Company.”
A tall young man named Ralph asked Irma to dance with him at a CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) dance. “We danced the evening away and then he offered to drive me home to the boarding house,” she happily remembers. “We dated until he was drafted into the Army in 1956. I lived in a trailer on Route 1 while he left to join the service.”
The couple married in June of 1957. Soon after they rented an apartment in Alexandria, Virginia, near where Ralph was stationed at Fort Belvoir in Fairfax, Virginia, just 12 miles south of Washington, D.C. “How about that. I went from living in one Alexandria to another Alexandria. I bet I’m the only one who can say that!”
That’s Irma for you. Finding the bright spots. The humor. Whatever is unusual. She is eager to share that the highlight of living near D.C was viewing the White House where the visiting Queen Elizabeth waved to her.
As Ralph’s military duty concluded, the couple moved back to Northern Kentucky where Ralph took over the family housing business founded by his father, a German immigrant, in 1928. Ralph also served as Kenton County Judge Executive from 2004 until 2010.
Ralph and Irma bought their first home in the Timberlake area of Erlanger. During their 11 years there, along came David (Karen) Drees, Lynn (Bill) Hemmer, Susan (Glen) Panoushek, Philip (Jennifer) Drees and Barbara (Rich) Jones. They have given Irma 13 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. David is now President and CEO of Drees Homes, headquartered in Ft. Mitchell.
Irma was an involved mother, never missing a school or sporting event. She planned trips, often crowding the family into a rented Winnebago to drive out west. Ralph loved to drive. Memories were made. The crew saw dozens of historical landmarks such as Mt. Rushmore to which Irma waved, of course. She believes her children have seen 49 states. Even the grandkids travel with her. While many college students wouldn’t be caught dead vacationing with a grandmother, one of her grandsons from Miami University, spent several days keeping her company in Sarasota this past winter. Other grandkids have done the same.
Says oldest son David, “Behind The Drees Company has always been my mom. While she rarely sought the spotlight, her steady influence is felt every day. Long before working from home was common, she managed payroll for decades, all while raising five children, staying active with golf and tennis, nurturing deep friendships, and giving back through service as a hospital volunteer. Somehow, she also found time to plan family trips that introduced us to states and national parks across the country. Today, she continues to take part in our annual family business meetings and remains the anchor of our family —quietly grounding us with her presence and values.”
One of Irma’s more visible accomplishments was her part in organizing the Northern Kentucky Home Builders Women’s Council. It was composed of 10 wives of the area’s development kings. Think Drees, Martin, Toebben, Fischer and others who have made their mark on the area. Irma served as president in 1977 and in the same role with the Cincinnati Home Builders Women’s Council in 1982.
“Someone thought Sue Butler was my daughter so from that time on she always called me mom. It was a fun inside joke. Thelma Martin, wife of the late Gordon Martin, was my golf and tennis buddy. We used to golf together for nine holes on Sundays at Summit Hills. Then we’d go out together and have fun as we’d try new restaurants or visit one of our friends. Our friendship extended to Tuesday nights when we would play tennis at what became Five Seasons. I was kind of sad when she moved to an Atlanta high rise to be near her son. But it was the right thing to do. She was a widow by then and it was safer to live close to her son.”
Irma lives in the same Crescent Springs two-story home she and Ralph shared since 1979. The family feels comfortable about her living there alone since son David and his wife Karen reside right next door.
“They have a pool so it’s easy for me to see the grandkids. I also see everyone at my house on Christmas Eve and everyone came here last Easter. I am fortunate that all the family lives in Northern Kentucky.”
The Drees family surprised Irma with the ultimate 90th birthday celebration. They acquired 90 birthday cards from family, friends and business associates. Then they rented a bus and toured all the homes they had lived in through the years. The group exited the bus and snapped a photo of the entire clan in front of each home. The tour ended at Carlo & Johnny’s restaurant for a festive birthday dinner.
While Irma and Ralph took their share of cruises as well as trips to trace their ancestry in Germany, nothing beat Northern Kentucky. When asked why the area is so special, she shows no hesitation. “I love the kindness of the people, the beautiful countryside, fast horses, the Cincinnati Reds, and of course the love of family that I see in every local city and in my personal life.”
She is particularly proud that Drees Homes is now one of the largest homebuilders in the nation with developments in nine states across 10 markets. It is the largest homebuilder in the Tri-State and just entered the Columbus, Ohio, area.
Irma, in her unassuming way, won’t admit that she’s played a key role behind the scenes. She’s just proud that her family has created homes around the U.S. for families to thrive, just as her own family has done in Northern Kentucky since her first child was born in 1960.
It is no wonder that so many middle aged women declare, “I want to be Irma Drees when I grow up.”
