Michael J. Drost

Michael J. Drost
10/10/1917-1/15/2017


Michael J. Drost, 99, Colfax Calif, died peacefully on Sunday, January 15, 2017, at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital in Grass Valley, Calif.
Michael was born October 10, 1917, in East Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, Penn, the son of Mike and Mary Drost.
In almost a century of living Michael saw profound changes in the world, the country, and in his own life.
Michael was born at a time when World War I (known then as "The Great War") was raging, and as millions of other Americans he witnessed the "Roaring Twenties", endured the "Great Depression", and to top it off came of age just in time to serve his country in the U.S. Army from June 1942 to December 1945, including service overseas in Normandy, northern France, the Rhineland and central Europe. Michael's primary war-time experience was with the 79th Infantry Division, 314th Infantry Regiment; his occupational specialty was anti-tank gunner. Michael's military record included these decorations and citations: Combat Infantryman Badge, American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, and World War II Victory Medal. Notably, Michael served simultaneously during the war as the oldest of five brothers, all of whom survived the experience.
Michael was honorably discharged from the Army as a Staff Sergeant at Fort MacArthur, Calif at the end of 1945, and California was where he stayed thereafter, joining his father, sister Mary and brother Martin in San Rafael, Marin County, just north of the Golden Gate. In the post-war era Michael embarked on a career as a house painter and was a faithful union (Bay Area Painters & Tapers) member the rest of his working life. Most of his working years were spent working for these painting companies: Weik Brothers, Giampolini & Co., and Mazza Painting.
Michael had remained single all the way---until at age 44 he married Jane MacRae on July 11, 1962; included in the package were Jane's daughter Jan, 20, and son Doug, 17.
Michael enjoyed life to the fullest. His interests and hobbies included hunting, golfing, fishing, playing cribbage and poker, and making himself available to family and friends through the years. He was a "49er Faithful" fan for more than 60 years and embraced the Giants when they moved from New York to San Francisco in the late Fifties. In 1986 Michael and Jane shifted gears and left San Rafael for life in the Sierra foothills, in Colfax.
Michael was a life member and former officer in VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), Jess E. Taylor Post 2003, Colfax. He also held membership in the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks #1108 in San Rafael for many years.
Michael was an outgoing , generous, patriotic, friendly man who loved children and never met a stranger. He contributed many phrases and words of counsel to the family and everybody else in his sphere, which many will continue to take joy in recalling for years to come. He possessed a simple wisdom drawn from his life experiences which will stand in good stead through the lives of those he leaves behind.
Michael had a healthy sense of humor, often punctuated by oft-heard roars of laughter, and even as he aged he was, incredibly, still fun to be around. His beloved wife of 44 years, Jane, died June 30, 2006, and his stepdaughter Jan passed away in 2009. His sister, Mary Anderson of Grass Valley, survived him by just two months and passed away on March 10, 2017. Michael's four brothers: John, Joseph, Martin and Steven pre-deceased him as did his parents Mike and Mary.
He is survived by stepson Doug Macrae, Kennewick Wash; grandchildren Jeffrey Nicholas, Amy Guertin, Joel Nicholas, Jeremy Nicholas, Mark Nicholas, all of Massachusetts and Christopher Low, Truckee Calif; nephews Terry Anderson and Michael Anderson of Calif, Joseph Anderson of Reno Nev; nieces Judy Anderson, Penn Valley Calif and Sharyn Bradley, Smartsville Calif; numerous great-grandchildren and extended family; devoted friends Cliff and Linda Wycoff, Colfax Calif, and longtime personal physician and friend Kurtis Fox, M.D., Colfax Calif.