James
James C. Drake
James passed away Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at Life Care Center in Plainwell.
He was born July 21, 1938 in Otsego to Clare and Alice (Kling) Drake. He had worked at Harding’s Market for 19 years before starting Jim Drake and Sons Construction Company. Jim loved nature and enjoyed bird watching, hunting, fishing, walking through the woods, hiking and cooking. He was active with Alcoholics Anonymous and liked attending retreats and being a mentor.
He was a 1956 Otsego High School graduate and enjoyed keeping in touch with his classmates and helping to organize class reunions. Jim took pride in sending Christmas cards each year to everyone on his list.
On July 15, 1983 he married Carol Rysenga who passed away in October 2017.
Surviving are his children, Jim (Tammy) Drake and Mark Drake; step-children, Dawn (Greg) Seiler, Luanne (Bob) Karabensh and Andrew Rysenga; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and siblings, Joan (Les) Gregersen, Judy (Rich) Haugh and Bruce (Terry) Drake.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife.
Friends may visit with Jim’s family from 6-8 P.M., Monday, March 26, 2018 at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego, where a funeral service will take place at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, March 27, 2018 with Pastor James Dyke Officiating.
Cremation will follow.
Private family burial of ashes will take place at Mountain Home Cemetery, Otsego Township.
Contributions in memory of Jim may be made to the
Kalamazoo Nature Center
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of James C. Drake
Condolence Messages
Sue (Hicks) Browne
March 22, 2018 at 4:18 pm
Mark, my sincere condolences to you and yours. My prayers are with you.
Sue
Reply
Pam Morse
March 22, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Mark, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad. The loss of a parent is one of the hardest parts of life. Wishing you peace and comfort in the memories you cherish.
Reply
Craig & Lorna Sisdon
March 22, 2018 at 8:15 pm
To the Drake family
We are so very sorry for your loss. Jim was always friendly, fun to see and a prominent presence in Otsego. Please know you are in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.
Craig and Lorna
Reply
Ron and Shirley Ruster
March 22, 2018 at 10:04 pm
We will always have very fond memories of Jim and Carol. We had many fun times with these two special people sharing meals followed by games of Mexican Train Dominoes.
Jim and Mark, once again you face the loss of a parent. We will be praying for you and your family during this difficult time.
Reply
Tim and Marcia Quigley
March 23, 2018 at 8:10 am
Dear Jim and Mark,
I fondly remember babysitting for you when you were just toddlers! I was always paid well! Your father was a nice man, he was always smiling. He did some work for us in our kitchen; we still have the counter tops and sliding glass doors he installed!
Please know that your father is now an Angel in Heaven watching over you!
Reply
Nancy and Norm Starr
March 23, 2018 at 11:37 am
Dear Jim and Mark:
I am so sad to hear of the death of your father. He was always smiling and such a good man. He will be missed. Our prayers and love are with you at this time.
Reply
Sherry (Meacham) Hurlbut
March 23, 2018 at 3:54 pm
Dear Bruce & Terry and Jim’s Family: So sorry to learn of Jim’s passing. I worked for Jim at Harding’s in 1964 and 1965. He was great to work for and I remember him as a great guy to talk to! May your memories help you through these difficult days. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
Reply
Dominick Gladstone
March 23, 2018 at 4:33 pm
My deepest condolences for all family and friends. Jim led a special life that touched many. He will be greatly missed, but always remembered.
Reply
Alan Bradley
March 23, 2018 at 10:42 pm
I am so very sorry to hear of Jim’s passing – He was both a hero and an inspiration to many of us in recovery from both our addiction and despair. Always ready with encouragement for what good things were possible through recovery and beyond – Jim will not be forgotten.
Reply
John Gray
March 24, 2018 at 12:32 pm
Our prayers are with the family. Jim touched me in a special way. Providing guidance and understanding when I most needed it. He will ALWAYS be remembered.
Reply
Shawna (LaCoss) Senart
March 24, 2018 at 6:46 pm
Mark, so sorry to hear about your dads passing he was a great help to my dad when he needed it! Hugs and prayers.
Reply
Nancy and John Hornyak
March 25, 2018 at 9:55 am
So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. He was a very kind and honest man. Our condolences to the Drake family.
Reply
Katherine S Ransler
March 27, 2018 at 8:38 am
Mark….so very sorry to hear of your loss. My prayers are with you.
Love, Kathy Ransler (Miller)
Reply
Tom Lucking
March 27, 2018 at 9:30 am
Jim and Mark,
Condolences. Your dad helped many to better lives and made the world a better place. Many think of him with gratitude for his support and smile.
Reply
Win Myers Jurrjens
March 28, 2018 at 10:05 am
To Jim’s family,
Jim and I were good friends through high school and all the rest of our
lives. I will miss him and know that his passing will leave a terrible hole in all of your lives. He never stopped talking about his family.
I was sorry to miss coming to the funeral but my eyes don’t let me drive
from Ann Arbor to Otsego. Prayers for all of you.
Reply
Terri Long
May 4, 2018 at 12:57 pm
To the Drake family:
I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of your dad. He was a great guy. He mentored my mom through AA. We always enjoyed seeing your dad at Christmas, he would always drop my mom off a tin of cookies. He will be missed by many.
Reply
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He was born July 21, 1938 in Otsego to Clare and Alice (Kling) Drake. He had worked at Harding’s Market for 19 years before starting Jim Drake and Sons Construction Company. Jim loved nature and enjoyed bird watching, hunting, fishing, walking through the woods, hiking and cooking. He was active with Alcoholics Anonymous and liked attending retreats and being a mentor.
He was a 1956 Otsego High School graduate and enjoyed keeping in touch with his classmates and helping to organize class reunions. Jim took pride in sending Christmas cards each year to everyone on his list.
On July 15, 1983 he married Carol Rysenga who passed away in October 2017.
Surviving are his children, Jim (Tammy) Drake and Mark Drake; step-children, Dawn (Greg) Seiler, Luanne (Bob) Karabensh and Andrew Rysenga; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and siblings, Joan (Les) Gregersen, Judy (Rich) Haugh and Bruce (Terry) Drake.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife.
Friends may visit with Jim’s family from 6-8 P.M., Monday, March 26, 2018 at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego, where a funeral service will take place at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, March 27, 2018 with Pastor James Dyke Officiating.
Cremation will follow.
Private family burial of ashes will take place at Mountain Home Cemetery, Otsego Township.
Contributions in memory of Jim may be made to the
Kalamazoo Nature Center
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
.
Offer Condolence for the family of James C. Drake
Condolence Messages
Sue (Hicks) Browne
March 22, 2018 at 4:18 pm
Mark, my sincere condolences to you and yours. My prayers are with you.
Sue
Reply
Pam Morse
March 22, 2018 at 5:14 pm
Mark, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad. The loss of a parent is one of the hardest parts of life. Wishing you peace and comfort in the memories you cherish.
Reply
Craig & Lorna Sisdon
March 22, 2018 at 8:15 pm
To the Drake family
We are so very sorry for your loss. Jim was always friendly, fun to see and a prominent presence in Otsego. Please know you are in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.
Craig and Lorna
Reply
Ron and Shirley Ruster
March 22, 2018 at 10:04 pm
We will always have very fond memories of Jim and Carol. We had many fun times with these two special people sharing meals followed by games of Mexican Train Dominoes.
Jim and Mark, once again you face the loss of a parent. We will be praying for you and your family during this difficult time.
Reply
Tim and Marcia Quigley
March 23, 2018 at 8:10 am
Dear Jim and Mark,
I fondly remember babysitting for you when you were just toddlers! I was always paid well! Your father was a nice man, he was always smiling. He did some work for us in our kitchen; we still have the counter tops and sliding glass doors he installed!
Please know that your father is now an Angel in Heaven watching over you!
Reply
Nancy and Norm Starr
March 23, 2018 at 11:37 am
Dear Jim and Mark:
I am so sad to hear of the death of your father. He was always smiling and such a good man. He will be missed. Our prayers and love are with you at this time.
Reply
Sherry (Meacham) Hurlbut
March 23, 2018 at 3:54 pm
Dear Bruce & Terry and Jim’s Family: So sorry to learn of Jim’s passing. I worked for Jim at Harding’s in 1964 and 1965. He was great to work for and I remember him as a great guy to talk to! May your memories help you through these difficult days. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
Reply
Dominick Gladstone
March 23, 2018 at 4:33 pm
My deepest condolences for all family and friends. Jim led a special life that touched many. He will be greatly missed, but always remembered.
Reply
Alan Bradley
March 23, 2018 at 10:42 pm
I am so very sorry to hear of Jim’s passing – He was both a hero and an inspiration to many of us in recovery from both our addiction and despair. Always ready with encouragement for what good things were possible through recovery and beyond – Jim will not be forgotten.
Reply
John Gray
March 24, 2018 at 12:32 pm
Our prayers are with the family. Jim touched me in a special way. Providing guidance and understanding when I most needed it. He will ALWAYS be remembered.
Reply
Shawna (LaCoss) Senart
March 24, 2018 at 6:46 pm
Mark, so sorry to hear about your dads passing he was a great help to my dad when he needed it! Hugs and prayers.
Reply
Nancy and John Hornyak
March 25, 2018 at 9:55 am
So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. He was a very kind and honest man. Our condolences to the Drake family.
Reply
Katherine S Ransler
March 27, 2018 at 8:38 am
Mark….so very sorry to hear of your loss. My prayers are with you.
Love, Kathy Ransler (Miller)
Reply
Tom Lucking
March 27, 2018 at 9:30 am
Jim and Mark,
Condolences. Your dad helped many to better lives and made the world a better place. Many think of him with gratitude for his support and smile.
Reply
Win Myers Jurrjens
March 28, 2018 at 10:05 am
To Jim’s family,
Jim and I were good friends through high school and all the rest of our
lives. I will miss him and know that his passing will leave a terrible hole in all of your lives. He never stopped talking about his family.
I was sorry to miss coming to the funeral but my eyes don’t let me drive
from Ann Arbor to Otsego. Prayers for all of you.
Reply
Terri Long
May 4, 2018 at 12:57 pm
To the Drake family:
I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of your dad. He was a great guy. He mentored my mom through AA. We always enjoyed seeing your dad at Christmas, he would always drop my mom off a tin of cookies. He will be missed by many.
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked
*
Comment
*
Name
*
*
Δ
Obituary Notification Service
Enter your email address if you would like to be notified when a new obituary notice is posted:
Search Obituaries
How do I send a condolence
At the bottom of this page, you will find a condolence form. You will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone) Once you are finished, simply click the submit condolence button. The condolence will be approved before it is published to the web site.
Share This Obituary
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Your Email
*
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