James Draze

IRON MOUNTAIN - James Edward Draze, 85, of 1509 West D St., Iron Mountain, died Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006, at Manorcare Health Services in Kingsford. He was born Sept. 29, 1921, in Ontonagon, son of the late Julian and Louise (LaCase) Draze. Jim graduated from Munising High School in 1939. After graduating he attended Ford Trade School in Detroit. He was a U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Jim married Martha M. Roberts on Aug. 17, 1946, in Negaunee. She preceded him in death after 58 years of marriage on Sept.18, 2004. Jim worked for the Marquette Mining Journal as a managing branch editor for 25 years. He then worked as a custodian at the Michigan State Police Post in Munising for 15 years. Jim also owned and operated the Bel-Vue Hotel and Coffee Shop in Munising, with his wife, Martha, for many years. After selling the Bel-Vue, they moved their home west of AuTrain on the shores of Lake Superior. Shortly after Jim and Martha retired, they moved to Iron Mountain where they have resided ever since. Jim was a member of St. Mary and St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Iron Mountain. He enjoyed reading, cutting wood, taking tour buses to the casino, snowshoeing and furniture refinishing with Martha. He loved spending time with his family at their lake home. Jim is survived by two sons, James R. (Deanna) Draze of Kalamazoo, lower Michigan and Michael J. (Linda) Draze of Minneapolis; a daughter, Kathy (George) Pond of Iron Mountain; a brother, David (Angie) Draze of Richland, Wash.; three sisters, Alice (Jack) Martin of Greenland, Frances (Walter) Gray of Bessemer and Muriel (Tom) Pawielski of Munising; a brother-in-law, Joseph Roberts and his son, David (Pat) Roberts, all of Negaunee; a sister-in-law, Mrs. William Roberts of Marquette; three grandchildren, Tony Draze of Mountain Iron, Minn., George (Breanna) Pond Jr. and their daughter, Ella Marie, of Marquette and Steven (Clara) Pond and their daughter, Madison Kathleen, of Goodyear, Ariz. and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Cecilia and a brother, Bill. Visitation will b held on Friday, Dec. 29, from 9:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. at St. Mary and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Iron Mountain. A Memorial Mass will follow at 10 a.m. at the church. Fr. Daniel Zaloga will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. Condolences may be expressed to the family of James Draze online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

James Draze

September 29, 1921 - December 9, 2006