James Drouillard

James Drouillard, 86, died Monday, December 3, 2012 at home.

Jim grew up in Hovland, where he attended elementary school. Graduating from Cook Co. High School in 1941, he joined the U.S. Navy at age 17. He served from 1943-1947 in Asia and the Philippines on a Landing Ship Tank Carrier. Jim was employed by Yellow Freight Lines and Greyhound Bus Company, where he especially enjoyed driving tour groups around the United States. He lived in Arizona for years before moving to Grand Portage with his wife Jeanne in 1991.

A member of the Grand Portage Ojibway Band, he was the last surviving World War II veteran residing in Grand Portage; and was honored on Veterans Day, 2012, for his military service and dedication to veterans. He was a member of Grand Portage Veteran's Memorial Association and American Legion; an important memory was the trip with other Grand Portage Veterans to the WW II Museum in Washington, D.C.

Jim enjoyed relating the history of the area, spoke highly of the work of the Cook County Veteran's Services, Grand Portage Community Center, Post Office,Elder Services, National Monument Heritage Center, Cook County Historical Society, and the Cook County Hospital and Care Center. He attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Hovland.

He is preceeded in death by his parents, Francis N. and Esther; siblings Violet (Schuering) and Francis; wife Jeanne (Boyle).

Jim is survived by children James, Jeonnie Kay, Donald, and Dennis.

Funeral will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hovland at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 11, 2012; interment at the Trinity Cemetery. Lunch provided at the Grand Portage Community Center at 12:30 p.m.