Justin James Drake, 44, of Chicago, IL (formerly of Johnson Creek, WI), was sealed and redeemed to glory on February 18, 2026, and is now resting in the arms of his Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ. Though his earthly walk has ended, he has been given new life and will remain in the hearts and minds of those he left behind.

Justin was born on July 29, 1981 in Milwaukee County Wisconsin. He spent his early years living in West Allis, later moving to Waterford and then Wind Lake in Racine County. He eventually settled in Johnson Creek, where he graduated from Johnson Creek High School with the ‘Class of 2000’. After graduation he attended classes at MATC in Watertown, WI, before moving to Chicago, IL, and beginning a career in Computer Networking and Internet Technology; most recently being employed as an IT Administrator for a US based Energy Provider – a job at which he excelled and truly enjoyed. He was very active in several online communities and also ran his own servers – providing website hosting and online forums. His friends online, and those closest to him, knew him as Leo, with the persona of a lion, but his personality was more that of a lamb. He was a very gentle person that never had an unkind word to say about anyone. He won many hearts throughout his life and he was always ready to share his knowledge with anyone that asked.

As a child, Justin was always taking things apart to see how they worked. It was rather frustrating for his mother and siblings until, eventually, he learned how to put them back together. When he was in second grade, he would pore through his mother’s electronics and telecommunications textbooks – learning as much as he could about electronics and technology. By the fourth grade, someone had given him a book on computer coding and he taught himself how to write code without even having a computer to test it on. Throughout his life he wrote many programs to correct or streamline processes for himself and others, including his employers. In recent years Justin had purchased and learned how to use a mixing board, and would DJ for an online nightclub on weekends – creating his own sets; something he really enjoyed.

Justin made himself valuable to many people in numerous ways throughout his lifetime. And though his intelligence and knowledge touched many lives, it is for his gentleness and loving nature that he will be loved and remembered most.

Justin is survived, and will be dearly missed, by his heartbroken mother, Kathee; as well as his brother, Joshua Caleb; sister Jessica April (Chester); nephews, Aaron and Caleb; dear friends Wesha and Sky; and cousins Kelly and Melissa. Justin is also survived by other family members, friends, co-workers and close friends in the online communities he frequented.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Joshua Michael; stepfather, Scot; cousin, Grant; maternal grandparents, Grandpa Phil & Grandma Bobby; uncles, Dave and Pat; and father, Dale Earl Pergande of Camp Douglas, WI.

A Christian funeral service will be held at 7:00pm on Friday, March 6, 2026 at the Olsen-Gibson Funeral Home in Jefferson, WI, with Pastor Ken Stolar presiding. Visitation will be on Friday from 5:00pm until the time of service at the funeral home. Justin’s earthly temple will be laid to rest at Ebenezer Moravian Cemetery in Watertown, WI, at 10:00am the following morning.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28  kjv

In lieu of flowers, please donate a ‘Tribute Gift’ in Justin’s name to:
Pacific Garden Mission
1458 South Canal Street
Chicago, IL 60607
https://www.pgm.org/donate/