Justin "J.B." Drake passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011 at the Anderson HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg, in the presence of family at age 89.
J.B. was born on Nov. 20, 1921 in rural Richland, Co. (then Crawford Co.), the son of Perlie "P.K." Drake and Josephine (Ewers) Drake. He graduated from Soldiers Grove High School, was first employed in his father's cheese factory, then Ray-O-Vac in Madison and Chicago, and then served in WWII in the 42nd Rainbow Division, Artillery Battery B as a member of the forward observer team. He saw action in Austria and Germany and participated in the liberation of the Dachau death camp in May, 1945. Following WWII, he toured Europe with a military jazz band as their front man and bass player.
He married Shirley Maxine Witt of Rock County on May 21, 1949 and raised their three sons in Watertown and Verona. For 10 years, he was the Pabst Farms Dairies fieldman/quality control specialist based in the Paoli creamery. His territory was in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. This was followed by 20 years with Monarch Chemicals in the same territory as a top salesman. He was honored with a selection as Wisconsin's "Sanitarian of the Year" in 1984.
JB was a lifetime member of the VFW, the American Legion (past commander) and the 42nd Rainbow Division Association. He enjoyed a trip to the 2004 dedication in Washington, D.C. of the WWII Memorial with all three of his sons. Another favorite trip was to Oahu and Maui for their 50th wedding anniversary with sons.
His other hobbies included dinner and dancing excursions with many Verona pals, hunting and fishing at their Northern Wisconsin retreat near Winter, Wis. and golf leagues near Verona and Owen, as well as their winter home near Mission, Texas, in later years. He and Shirley also enjoyed many years of boating and snowmobiling all throughout Wisconsin. He was also a past member of SPBSQUA (the national barbershop organization).
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley, his parents, and his sister Adele Ruggiero, Bogota, N.J. He is survived by his sister Belva Drake (Andy) Wade, San Diego, CA and his sons, Stephen J., Madison, Kenneth A., Silver Spring, MD and Robert Justin.
J.B. was born on Nov. 20, 1921 in rural Richland, Co. (then Crawford Co.), the son of Perlie "P.K." Drake and Josephine (Ewers) Drake. He graduated from Soldiers Grove High School, was first employed in his father's cheese factory, then Ray-O-Vac in Madison and Chicago, and then served in WWII in the 42nd Rainbow Division, Artillery Battery B as a member of the forward observer team. He saw action in Austria and Germany and participated in the liberation of the Dachau death camp in May, 1945. Following WWII, he toured Europe with a military jazz band as their front man and bass player.
He married Shirley Maxine Witt of Rock County on May 21, 1949 and raised their three sons in Watertown and Verona. For 10 years, he was the Pabst Farms Dairies fieldman/quality control specialist based in the Paoli creamery. His territory was in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. This was followed by 20 years with Monarch Chemicals in the same territory as a top salesman. He was honored with a selection as Wisconsin's "Sanitarian of the Year" in 1984.
JB was a lifetime member of the VFW, the American Legion (past commander) and the 42nd Rainbow Division Association. He enjoyed a trip to the 2004 dedication in Washington, D.C. of the WWII Memorial with all three of his sons. Another favorite trip was to Oahu and Maui for their 50th wedding anniversary with sons.
His other hobbies included dinner and dancing excursions with many Verona pals, hunting and fishing at their Northern Wisconsin retreat near Winter, Wis. and golf leagues near Verona and Owen, as well as their winter home near Mission, Texas, in later years. He and Shirley also enjoyed many years of boating and snowmobiling all throughout Wisconsin. He was also a past member of SPBSQUA (the national barbershop organization).
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley, his parents, and his sister Adele Ruggiero, Bogota, N.J. He is survived by his sister Belva Drake (Andy) Wade, San Diego, CA and his sons, Stephen J., Madison, Kenneth A., Silver Spring, MD and Robert Justin.
Justin "J.B." Drake passed away peacefully on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011 at the Anderson HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg, in the presence of family at age 89.
J.B. was born on Nov. 20, 1921 in rural Richland, Co. (then Crawford Co.), the son of Perlie "P.K." Drake and Josephine (Ewers) Drake. He graduated from Soldiers Grove High School, was first employed in his father's cheese factory, then Ray-O-Vac in Madison and Chicago, and then served in WWII in the 42nd Rainbow Division, Artillery Battery B as a member of the forward observer team. He saw action in Austria and Germany and participated in the liberation of the Dachau death camp in May, 1945. Following WWII, he toured Europe with a military jazz band as their front man and bass player.
He married Shirley Maxine Witt of Rock County on May 21, 1949 and raised their three sons in Watertown and Verona. For 10 years, he was the Pabst Farms Dairies fieldman/quality control specialist based in the Paoli creamery. His territory was in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. This was followed by 20 years with Monarch Chemicals in the same territory as a top salesman. He was honored with a selection as Wisconsin's "Sanitarian of the Year" in 1984.
JB was a lifetime member of the VFW, the American Legion (past commander) and the 42nd Rainbow Division Association. He enjoyed a trip to the 2004 dedication in Washington, D.C. of the WWII Memorial with all three of his sons. Another favorite trip was to Oahu and Maui for their 50th wedding anniversary with sons.
His other hobbies included dinner and dancing excursions with many Verona pals, hunting and fishing at their Northern Wisconsin retreat near Winter, Wis. and golf leagues near Verona and Owen, as well as their winter home near Mission, Texas, in later years. He and Shirley also enjoyed many years of boating and snowmobiling all throughout Wisconsin. He was also a past member of SPBSQUA (the national barbershop organization).
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley, his parents, and his sister Adele Ruggiero, Bogota, N.J. He is survived by his sister Belva Drake (Andy) Wade, San Diego, CA and his sons, Stephen J., Madison, Kenneth A., Silver Spring, MD and Robert Justin.
J.B. was born on Nov. 20, 1921 in rural Richland, Co. (then Crawford Co.), the son of Perlie "P.K." Drake and Josephine (Ewers) Drake. He graduated from Soldiers Grove High School, was first employed in his father's cheese factory, then Ray-O-Vac in Madison and Chicago, and then served in WWII in the 42nd Rainbow Division, Artillery Battery B as a member of the forward observer team. He saw action in Austria and Germany and participated in the liberation of the Dachau death camp in May, 1945. Following WWII, he toured Europe with a military jazz band as their front man and bass player.
He married Shirley Maxine Witt of Rock County on May 21, 1949 and raised their three sons in Watertown and Verona. For 10 years, he was the Pabst Farms Dairies fieldman/quality control specialist based in the Paoli creamery. His territory was in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. This was followed by 20 years with Monarch Chemicals in the same territory as a top salesman. He was honored with a selection as Wisconsin's "Sanitarian of the Year" in 1984.
JB was a lifetime member of the VFW, the American Legion (past commander) and the 42nd Rainbow Division Association. He enjoyed a trip to the 2004 dedication in Washington, D.C. of the WWII Memorial with all three of his sons. Another favorite trip was to Oahu and Maui for their 50th wedding anniversary with sons.
His other hobbies included dinner and dancing excursions with many Verona pals, hunting and fishing at their Northern Wisconsin retreat near Winter, Wis. and golf leagues near Verona and Owen, as well as their winter home near Mission, Texas, in later years. He and Shirley also enjoyed many years of boating and snowmobiling all throughout Wisconsin. He was also a past member of SPBSQUA (the national barbershop organization).
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley, his parents, and his sister Adele Ruggiero, Bogota, N.J. He is survived by his sister Belva Drake (Andy) Wade, San Diego, CA and his sons, Stephen J., Madison, Kenneth A., Silver Spring, MD and Robert Justin.
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