School remembers fallen soldier

PESHTIGO - Flags fly at half staff, area businesses pay their respects, and the school Steven Drees attended prepares for his funeral.

"Awful shock for not only me, but all of our staff," said Peshtigo High School Principal Steve Motkowski.

Motkowski worked out arrangements Thursday morning. He says the school is honored to hold the Drees service.

"Steven spent 13 years of his short life here as a student in this building and he represented us in sports and the academic program. We're proud of him that he joined the service and we want to do all we can to honor not only his memory, but with the family," said Motkowski.

The Drees visitation and funeral will be held in the Peshtigo High School gym.

School officials expect two to five thousand people will turn out to say their goodbyes.

"We're expecting a lot of support for the family, we're expecting probably thousands of alumni, thousands of people from the community that know the family and know the qualities that Steven had," Motkowski said.

Drees' high school English teacher Lynn Heritsch said, "he is a hero."

Heritsch showed us where Drees used to sit, and reflected on her former student.

"Steven would come in here every day with a bright smile on his face, just a very nice, soft-hearted young man," said Heritsch.

Outside the classroom, Drees was involved in sports--including football, track and basketball.

"He was a pretty athletic kid," said his former basketball coach, Rick Neumann.

Neumann said Drees was a team player on the court.

The last time he saw Drees was in the high school weight room where Drees trained right before deploying to Afghanistan.

"You never think that way-you never think it's going to be the last time you see anyone," said Neumann.

School staff say it won't be easy to say goodbye to Steven Drees. But they, along with the Peshtigo community, are doing all they can to honor the hometown hero who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Visitation for Private Steven Drees is from 10 a.m. to 5p.m., Tuesday at Peshtigo High School.

The funeral will follow immediately, at the high school.

A private burial is set for Wednesday, according to Berth & Rosenthal Funeral Home.