Leroy Strasburg

Leroy C. Strasburg, 85, passed away very peacefully on Monday, December 5, 2011, at Jordan Creek Nursing and Rehab in Springfield, Missouri. His devoted and loving wife, Joan (Meeker) Strasburg, was at his side and holding his hand as he passed. Joan is a member of and Lee attended Wesley United Methodist Church in Springfield.

Lee (known also by many in his family as “Roy”) was born May 24, 1926, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Sidney and Ethel Strasburg. He and his first wife, Kay, married in 1947 and had two sons, Clark Strasburg and Craig Strasburg. Lee married his present wife, Joan, (who he lovingly called “Jody”) in 1973 and through her has two step-daughters, Mary Pat Pettengill and Martha Pettengill.

Mary Pat lives in Springfield and tirelessly helped oversee Lee’s care and needs over the past several years. With Joan and Lee living in two separate care facilities the past year and a-half, Mary Pat made it possible for Joan to visit Lee on a regular schedule, and she brought immeasurable comfort to them both during the difficult period they had to live apart. Mary Pat also stayed with Joan at Lee’s side in the hospice Angel Room the last 3 days of Lee’s life.

A Veteran, Lee enlisted in the United States Army as a young man, and bravely served his country in Europe during World War II. He shared many memories over the years of his time in Europe and travels in Italy. His younger sister Mildred still cherishes a bracelet he sent to her from overseas.

As an Engineer, Lee worked in the Aerospace industry at North American Aviation and Hughes Aircraft, and in later years worked for Lawn Boy, Outboard Marine Corporation, Harvard Industries, and Hunter Fan Company.

After marrying in 1973, Joan and Lee resided in Hartford, Wisconsin for several years and then moved to Cordova, Tennessee. Another job transfer took them back to Sheboygan, Wisconsin for several years before they retired and moved to Springfield, Missouri, where Joan’s elderly parents (Wendell & Beulah Meeker) then lived. Joan and Lee enjoyed 38 happy, loving years together and always made a lovely home for themselves no matter where they were planted. Over the years they enjoyed camping, gardening, landscaping, feeding the birds, loving their doggies (Shotzie and later Tiny & Jack), and watching TV and just being home-bodies. Lee loved Joan’s good home cooking, a big bowl of ice cream (properly melted), and lots and lots of cookies and chocolate (which he joyfully referred to as “choc-o-lot”). One of Lee’s greatest joys was the years he and Joan had their two toy fox terriers, Jack and Tiny. Lee and Jack were the best of buddies -- wherever Lee was (usually sitting in his chair with a cup of coffee and a good book), Jack was right at his side. The two were, truly, two peas in a pod. In these last two years, as Parkinson’s disease made it more difficult to enjoy some favorite foods, he became a big fan of the Frosty’s from Wendy’s that Mary Pat and Joan would bring to him on their visits. He never missed a drop!

Lee was an individualist and nonconformist, with a very inquisitive mind. Not much of a conversationalist, Lee was a quiet and reserved man, who walked to the beat of his own drum. An avid reader, he loved science fiction, Westerns, astronomy and science magazines, and also poetry. Although he modestly never acknowledged his own talent, he was a gifted painter and artist, and also enjoyed writing verses of poetry.

Lee is survived by his wife, Joan (Meeker) Strasburg (Springfield, MO), sons Clark (& Susan) Strasburg (Bradenton, FL) and Craig (& Nancy) Strasburg (Des Moines, IA), and step-daughters Mary Pat Pettengill (Springfield, MO) and Martha (& Sandra Large) Pettengill (Port Washington, WI).

He is further survived by his loving sister Mildred Saunders (Glen Bernie, MD); Aunt Hilda Luedtke (Arizona); niece Suzann Giza and nephew Tommy Saunders; grand-daughters Shannon Strasburg and Tabatha (& Rick) Carroll; great-grandchildren Ricky, Cydnie, Corey and Zachery Carroll; brothers-in-law Alvin (& Nancy) Meeker (Springfield MO), and David (& Bea) Meeker (Canton, IL); as well as many other family members who loved and cared for him.

Lee is preceded in death by his parents Sidney and Ethel Strasburg (Hampton, MD).

In Spring 2012, Joan would like to hold a memorial service for Lee and the details will be shared at a later date.

Permanent online condolences, photos and stories may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.