James Droskie

James Droskie

James F. Droskie, 69, of St. Ignace enjoyed a 33-year career in banking, retiring as chief executive officer and president of First National Bank of St. Ignace, and was active in many community organizations. Mr. Droskie died Friday, October 20, 2006, after a year-long battle with leukemia.

He was born May 12, 1937, in Sault Ste. Marie to Frank J. and Mary (nee Darby) Droskie and was graduated from LaSalle High School in St. Ignace in 1955. On May 14, 1960, he married Roberta Paulson at St. Ignatius Loyola Church and they reared three children.

Mr. Droskie worked for the Mackinac Bridge Authority from its opening in 1957 until June 1966, when he began a career in banking. He was director of the Cedarville Branch of First National Bank of St. Ignace from 1967 to 1977, then returned to St. Ignace to work in the main office. During his career, he attended and received degrees from the Northern Michigan School of Banking and Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. He retired as CEO and president of the bank June 15, 1999, exactly 33 years from the start of his career, and continued to serve as a member of the bank board of directors for seven years.

Mr. and Mrs. Droskie enjoyed winter vacations at their residence in Englewood, Florida.

Mr. Droskie served as president of the Michigan Bankers Association and of the Michigan Association of Community Bankers, and also was president for eight years of the Les Cheneaux Community Schools Board of Education in Cedarville. He was a member of the Les Cheneaux and the St. Ignace Lions Clubs, served as secretary of Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce, director of the Cedarville Business Association, treasurer of Little League, chairman of the St. Ignace Downtown Development Authority, and member the St. Ignace Planning Commission.

He also was a member of St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church.

Mr. Droskie belonged to the St. Ignace Golf and Country Club and his hobbies included golfing and woodworking and, especially, entertaining his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Roberta; three children and their families, Scott and Samantha Droskie of Jackson, Sandy and Mike Grisdale of Cheboygan, and Susan and Tim Cronan of Troy; eight grandchildren, Bryan, Caleb, Michael, Brendan, James, Matthew, Adam, and Jenna; a brother, Walter Droskie of St. Ignace, and a brother-inlaw and his family, Butch and Patricia Paulson of Muskegon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary Droskie, and his stepmother, Ella Droskie.

Friends called at Dodson Funeral Home Monday, October 23, with parish prayers at 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, October 24, at St. Ignatius Loyola Church with Father Jim Williams and Deacon Tom McClelland officiating.

Cremation will follow and burial at St. Ignatius Cemetery will be at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to LMAS District Health Department Hospice at 124 Elliott Street, St. Ignace, or Mackinac Straits Oncology Center, 220 Burdette Street, St. Ignace.