Age 65. Born July 29, 1949. Loving father of Heather and Nathan. Beloved son of Henry and Stella, brother of Joe and Susan. He was a world-class scientist and businessman.

In 1988, with great passion, scientific acumen and conviction, Dr, James Dragun founded The Dragun Corporation. Shortly after he established the company, he released his first book, "The Soil Chemistry of Hazardous Materials." He would later go on to author or co-author many more scientific tomes including, "Elements in North American Soils" and "Natural Chemicals in Sediments."

A native Detroiter, Jim completed his undergraduate work at Wayne State University in Chemistry, moving next to Pennsylvania State University where he earned a Master's and Ph.D. in agronomy at his beloved Penn State. The university recognized Jim's accomplishments in 2005, when the Department of Agronomy awarded him with the "Distinguished Alumni Award."

Upon graduation from Penn State, Jim served the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington D.C. Over the course of the next five years, Jim would work on some of the Nation's highest profile environmental projects. It was while working for the EPA that Jim became convinced that a sound scientific understanding of contaminants and how they behaved in the environment was lacking from many of the scientific assessments that he reviewed.

Realizing that his nature did not lend itself to be a government bureaucrat, Jim soon found himself working for environmental consulting firms in California and later back in his home state of Michigan. What Jim discovered during his time working for consultants was that he wanted to approach projects differently than through "industry standards." He believed that consulting meant solving problems as quickly as possible. As Jim was fond of saying, "We get you out of trouble, we keep you out of trouble, and we don't make trouble."

Over the course of the next nearly 30 years, Jim earned a well-founded reputation as one of the premier scientists in the environmental consulting community, known for his disciplined, scientific approach to solving complicated environmental issues and conducting tough-as-nails regulatory negotiations. Jim was also a frequent lecturer both in the United States and Canada. Jim's expertise in soil chemistry reached China, Europe, and the Middle East, where he was also invited to teach. In 2012, Jim opted for semi-retirement and to pursue additional interest.

Jim's family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, July 30th, from 11:00 AM until a 1:00 PM funeral service at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home in downtown Farmington.

Burial will follow at St. Patrick Calvary Cemetery in Brighton, Michigan. (at Brighton Road & Adams Street)