Person

Drenner, Donald von Ruysdael

1915-1995

Donald von Ruysdael Drenner was a writer, musician, and radio operator who also spent many years working as a librarian and an engineer. Born in 1915, Drenner first began operating an amateur radio station in 1928, and he was licensed by the Department of Commerce as a radio operator in 1931. From 1934 to 1935, while attending the University of Kansas, he began working on his first novel and his first symphony. Then, from 1935 to 1938, Drenner completed his first opera, his second symphony, and a book of poetry. Drenner continued to work in radio from 1938 to 1941 as an engineer at radio station KGGF, while remaining a prolific poetry writer. During World War 2, Drenner served in multiple military radio operations including for the BBC in London and under General Charles de Gaulle at Radio Luxembourg in France. After the war, Drenner returned to radio station KGGF from 1946 to 1949, and he also published a book on radio engineering. From 1959 to 1977, Drenner was the head librarian at the Coffeyville Carnegie Public Library during which time he helped establish the Kansas “System Libraries.” He was also a biomedical engineer consultant from 1972 to 1981 at the Coffeyville Memorial Hospital where he established the Coronary Care Unit. Drenner retired from the Library in 1977 and the Hospital in 1981. He died on April 7, 1995.

Written in January 2021 by Jarrod Kuckelman.

Creator Source: Local Authority File