Nadine Drennan

Nadine Sue (Tesene) Drennan passed away peacefully on May 8, 2025 in Mason City.

A private family graveside was held for Nadine and William “Bill” together at Mt. Vernon Township Cemetery. In Nadine’s memory donations may be given to the World Wildlife Fund (in honor of Nadine’s love of elephants) and the Central Gardens of North Iowa (where she volunteered for many years).

Nadine was born on February 1, 1938 in Mason City to Walter Knaak Tesene and Gladys (Kruggel) Tesene. She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1956 and then attended Iowa State College, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry. She met her husband-to-be, William (Bill) Drennan, of New Sharon, Iowa, in the Iowa State student union when Bill invited Nadine to a game of bridge. When she said she didn’t know bridge, he said, “That’s no problem, I’ll teach you.”

On October 2, 1960, Nadine and Bill were married in Clear Lake and moved to Cedar Rapids where they lived for the next 29 years. In 1963, they took an adventurous trip – touring Europe for the whole summer on “five dollars a day” in a blue VW bug purchased in Wolfsburg, Germany.  When they returned home, the VW bug came along too (shipped from Germany).

Bill and Nadine had two daughters, Kathleen Drennan Allen (husband Kelly Allen) and Heather Lynn Drennan (husband James Bowles). They were blessed with five grandchildren, Aza Drennan Allen, Isabella Michelle Allen, Avery Chawner Drennan, Finn Malcolm Bowles and Milo

Hugh Bowles. 

Nadine put her chemistry degree to use at Cargill’s Sanitation Laboratories in Cedar Rapids and managed the lab for many years. She focused on enforcing safety measures and eventually transferred to the Eddyville Cargill location as a safety specialist. Nadine excelled in her work and was a strong role model for her daughters and their friends.

After retirement, Bill and Nadine moved first to his New Sharon family farm and later to Nadine’s family farm in Clear Lake. In their early retirement, they had many adventures together while traveling doing food audits and exploring Midwestern towns.

Nadine loved gardening and often said she felt most like herself in the garden. She had a lifelong love of elephants and quilts, as well as cooking and baking. Nadine and Bill spent 58 years together – enjoying friends, antique shopping, cruises, their children and grandchildren,

and a deep love for the Iowa land.

Nadine was preceded in death by her husband Bill, who passed away in 2019. She is survived by her daughters, Kathleen Allen (Kelly Allen) and Heather Drennan (James Bowles) as well as her five grandchildren.

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.