John H. Droge

John Henry Droge entered into eternal rest on December 18, 2019, at the age of 91. John was born and raised in Seneca, Kansas. He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Gertrude Droge; and ten siblings: Emil, Arden, Clarence, Leonard, Helen, Charles, Harry, Leslie, Margaret, and Eleanor. He is survived by his loving three daughters: Maria Weaver, Katrina Groeger, Karen Whitaker, and son-in-law: Tony Whitaker; four grandchildren: Reuben Neff, Jyoti Whitaker, Ryan Groeger, and Jivan Whitaker; and former wife, Mona B. Droge.

John worked on the family farm growing up, and at the age of 18 enlisted into the Army Air Corps (later the Air Force) in October 1946. At Ladd Field (now Fort Wainwright) near Fairbanks, Alaska, he worked as a Quartermaster, managing the laundry and dry cleaning facility on base. While there, he had an opportunity to work as a temporary air crew member if he monitored one of four engines that had been repaired. John enjoyed that test flight, which flew over the North Pole, monitoring the weather. He was discharged at the end of the war, after 17 months of service, and received a World War II Victory Medal.  He later returned to Alaska with his brothers Charles and Harry, and worked for the railroad replacing railroad ties and as a brakeman.      

He earned a Bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University, a Master’s degree at North Carolina State University, and a Doctorate (PhD) in Agricultural Economics at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. In 1961 he moved to Washington D. C. where he worked for the Agricultural Department as an Economist, and later for the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency. After leaving the government, he worked as a realtor until he retired.

A burial service with military honors will be held at Crownsville Veteran’s Cemetery, Crownsville, MD, on 27 December 2019 at 2:30 pm. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer’s  Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 in our father’s name.