Thomas J. Drake

Thomas J. Drake, 77, of Rockford, passed away Friday, December 7, 2018. He was born on August 6, 1941 in the Detroit area of Michigan to James and Mildred Drake. He married his high school sweetheart, Janice Raines in 1962. 

During his growing up years Tom was actively involved in Boy Scouts of America, rising to the honored rank of Eagle Scout and being named for numerous regional honors. Scouting had a big influence on Tom's life and character. Because of scouting, he became a life-long lover of camping and other outdoor activities, such as sailing. 

As a Scoutmaster, Tom mentored dozens of young men to live on the honorable path of the Scout Oath:

On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

The Scout Law: A Scout is: TRUSTWORTHY: Tell the truth and keep promises. People can depend on you. LOYAL. Show that you care about your family, friends, Scout leaders, school, and country. HELPFUL: Volunteer to help others without expecting a reward. FRIENDLY: Be a friend to everyone, even people who are very different from you. COURTEOUS: Be polite to everyone and always use good manners. KIND: Treat others as you want to be treated . Never harm or kill any living thing without good reason. OBEDIENT: Follow the rules of your family, school, and pack. Obey the laws of your community and country. CHEERFUL: Look for the bright side of life. Cheerfully do tasks that come your way. Try to help others be happy. THRIFTY: Work to pay your own way. Try not to be wasteful. Use time, food, supplies, and natural resources wisely. BRAVE: Face difficult situations even when you feel afraid. Do what you think is right despite what others might be doing or saying. CLEAN: Keep your body and mind fit. Help keep your home and community clean. REVERENT: Be reverent toward God. Be faithful in your religious duties. Respect the beliefs of others.

Certainly Tom had flaws; nonetheless, these character qualities describe Tom Drake quite well. Tom's ingenuity, tenacity, creativity, and keen problem-solving mind enabled him to have a thriving career as a mechanical engineer. These talents enabled him to rise from draftsman to eventually engineering management positions without the help of a college degree. In 1970, Tom moved his family from the Detroit area to Rockford to take an engineering position with Greenlee Bros. Tom's skills were soon recognized in the Rockford area, and after only a few years at Greenlee, Tom was hired as Engineering Manager at W.F. & John Barnes. Eventually he moved his engineering expertise to Ingersoll, where he worked until retirement.

Despite a busy career, Tom's life with his wife Jan was centered around church and family. In their 20's, both Tom and Jan committed their lives to follow Jesus Christ.  They shaped their lives around learning and living the Word of God found in the Bible, looking to the words of scripture to guide every decision and help them face every crisis.  Tom and Jan raised their kids to love and serve God, leaving a legacy of Christian service and ministry. Tom served on the board of First Assembly of God church and Total Faith Community Church. True to the Scout Law, "thrifty" Tom knew how to save a dollar, and was frugal with his money. Yet he believed in tithing and giving, and was a quiet but big giver to his church, foreign missions, and various other ministries. Tom saw that his kids achieved the college degrees that he had not attained, also giving scholarships to his grandchildren. Tom's ministry focus was ministry to marriages, believing that strong marriages make for strong, healthy, and loving families. Tom and Jan were married for 57 years, and credit the quality of their life and marriage to the ministry of Marriage Encounter.  The effect of this ministry was so significant upon their lives that they joined a team of people desiring to establish a Marriage Encounter ministry in their own denomination of the Assemblies of God.  For 31 years Tom and Jan served as presenters for and the Northern Illinois Area Directors for Assemblies of God Marriage Encounter.  During those years they directly touched the marriages of thousands of couples, and helped establish AG Marriage Encounter communities in Milwaukee, Chicago and Peoria. Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1999. Yet he fought to live life, stay active, and be involved in people's lives.  He always had a "project" he was working on, up until his dying day.

Tom is lovingly remembered by his grateful family: adoring wife, Jan; sons, Pete (Diane) Drake and Jeff (Lori) Drake; daughter, Jennifer Whiteford; brother, Larry Drake; 6 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents; sister, Louise Drake; and beloved children, Brian and Allison. We, his family, know he is in Heaven, and have joy in our hearts that he is alive with God, free from Parkinson's, living in a new pain-free body, and probably trying to find a stash of tootsie pops!

A funeral service will be held to celebrate Tom's life and God's goodness on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. at Northeast Christian Church, please enter Door A 5651 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, Illinois 61114 with his son, Pastor Pete Drake officiating. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until time of service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Assembles of God Marriage Encounter at www.agme.org/give

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