Josh was born in March 1985 to Ed and Terri Druke in a small town in Vermont. Josh and his younger brother Ryan enjoyed the many benefits of time spent with multiple generations of family. They grew up together playing sports, sugaring, plowing snow, cutting hay, feeding animals, walking the woods, and putting up firewood. Josh's parents made specific career decisions to support and prioritize their family. Ed started working at a local lumber yard in 1986 soon after Josh was born so he could go home for lunch and pick up the boys from school a few years later. They put family first in so many areas of life and that strong family environment set the direction for the way Josh lived.
JOSH'S STORY
Sports were a big part of Josh’s life during middle and high school. His competitive heart was a fire that made him successful both on and off the court. Combining talent and passion is a powerful force! Basketball was his favorite sport, something he played and enjoyed throughout his life and passed along to his kids. He was a 1,000 point scorer in three years, and he worked hard with his team to get to the state championship game in 2003. He was nominated for the McDonald’s All American basketball team and traveled to Ohio to be with the best players in the country. In the midst of his highly competitive spirit, he still maintained a simple enjoyment of the game and would often be in the driveway shooting hoops with his family and friends.
Josh’s parents had the opportunity to become owners in the local lumber yard after Ed spent 20+ years working on staff. Their goal was to maintain a unique hometown business, create local jobs to keep families strong and see their sons grow up in a family business along with future generations after them. From a very young age, Josh and Ryan were able to experience business, livelihood, community and family entwined.
After Josh went through college and moved back toward home, his involvement in the family business steadily increased. He poured many efforts into its growth and success. Over 16 years he became an expert in his field and was a young leader in the building industry. He kept his focus on people, inspired his co-workers and made lasting relationships with local builders and businesses. The family business continued to grow as Josh and Ryan worked alongside their parents. The values and character Josh showed at work were an extension and reflection of the family time and sports activities he knew growing up.
Josh was also involved in multiple business development and workforce development organizations in Vermont and New Hampshire. He served on the board of directors for economic development organizations and lumber industry associations. He was a supporter and mentor at a local technical career center school for students interested in building science trades. Josh was always looking for ways to keep local communities strong and create new sustainable growth. He was an advocate and a strategic thinker. He had an ability to connect with people of all different backgrounds by finding common ground and making everyone feel heard.
JOSH'S FAMILY
Josh and Jamie were married in 2009 and a whole new family came to life. Two larger families were merged together and Josh was welcomed by Jamie’s parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and grandparents. As they built a house and had their first daughter Everly, Josh’s priorities came into focus. He worked hard to provide for his wife and daughter, continuing to develop the family business to see it succeed for the future. Eloise (Lucie) was born and their family grew to four. They took an opportunity to move a couple towns over and live next door to Jamie’s parents. Josh was able to work with his parents each day and live next to Jamie’s parents; both families were integral to the story of Josh’s life. Josh spent many of his evenings and weekends with Jamie’s family and was beloved by her parents and siblings. Oliver was born in 2019 and the Druke family was five strong.
As a young father, Josh was able to spend a lot of time on community activities woven together with family and friends. Josh coached his town’s soccer team and the family business paid for the league’s t-shirts. Seeing the community kids running around with the family business logo on brightly colored shirts brought a smile to a lot of faces. It was another simple way that family, business and community were brought together and made stronger. Josh’s children played basketball and soccer, starting to make the next generation of friendships.
Josh’s involvement and presence as a husband and a father was constant and beautiful. He was a servant leader in his home who sacrificed his time, energy, and comfort to love and care for Jamie and the kids. Patience and tenderness characterized his interactions. Most evenings he was snuggling or reading to at least one of the kids on the couch. On a late weekend in October 2021, Josh was working outside, Lucie walked up to him in a princess dress. She asked him to dance and they danced in the driveway. Jamie took a photo, a picture of him dancing with his daughter at home. It captured who he was and shows the character of what his life meant.
October 28, 2021
Josh died suddenly on October 28, 2021 in a farm equipment accident at his house. He was 36 years old. The pain and tragedy of his passing has reverberated through the lives of so many people and the communities he impacted. His family, church and business are changed and we will always remember his incredible presence. As someone who reached so many people with the way he lived, Josh's death has left a deep sense of loss. Trying to write his story is an impossible task to complete; remembering him is a lifelong journey we travel.
We had the privilege of watching him quietly and consistently invest in his family, his faith and his local community. These were the things that animated his heart, inspired his mind and were worthy of his time. These were the things that Josh believed were important. In his multitude of small choices and little actions, he created a fullness and richness for so many other people.
"I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got."
RUN
TO WIN...
1 Corinthians 9:24-26
(The Message version)
Inspired by Josh's life, The Joshua Druke Foundation is supporting and building upon family, faith and community. We will remember and honor the way he lived. Our vision is to create a unique and lasting place where individuals and organizations can play, learn and grow stronger together. As we pursue this goal, we will also directly support individuals and organizations through scholarships, sponsorships and special events. We want to build a deep community of people who reflect Josh's character into the generations to come.
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Thank you for being on this journey with us - we are so grateful! Reach out if we can support you as we all strive to follow Josh's example of small choices and little actions to make a difference in the world around us.