Clients, coworkers and friends at Metropolitan Independent Living Services (MILS) are mourning the death of owner David Michael “Mike” Dreier. Dreier, age 57, of Coon Rapids, passed away unexpectedly Jan. 23.

Dreier is remembered as a kind-hearted man and as a pioneer in both the home care and transportation industries.

Dreier grew up enjoying working with his father, learning to work on motor vehicles and working as a delivery driver as soon as he could drive. He graduated from Central High School in Omaha, NE, and then went to vocational school to become an auto mechanic. He owned several 1960s vintage muscle cars and tinkered with them throughout his life.

He enlisted in the Air Force as a young man. Shortly before leaving for basic training in July 1973, he dove into a shallow spot in a lake and sustained a spinal cord injury, just before he was to leave.

In the early days of Metro Mobility, Dreier was a primary dispatcher for the paratransit service.

In 1988, Dreier opened the doors to MILS, his home care agency. He became an effective advocate for people with disabilities and went the extra mile to seek out the information his clients needed. Dreier always made it his clients’ quality of life his top priority.

He made sure his clients had the proper durable medical equipment, and always made himself available to each of his clients to resolve any conflicts between clients and caregivers. He kept abreast of changes to rules and regulations affecting his clients. He also helped others who were interested in starting businesses like his, and made it a point to employ other people with disabilities.

He also started MAT, a transportation company for people with disabilities. Dreier was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by three brothers, two sisters and many nieces, nephews and friends. Services were at Washburn McReavey Coon Rapids Chapel.