Thomas Strang

THOMAS STRANG

Manchester

Thomas A. Strang, 89, of Evergreen Estates in Cedar Rapids, formerly of Manchester, died Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, at 2:25 a.m., at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. Friends and relatives of Tom may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Reiff Funeral Home in Cascade, where a wake service will be held at 8 p.m. Services for Tom will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Cascade, with the Rev. Aloysius Vorwald presiding. Burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery in Cascade with full military honors afforded by the Cascade American Legion Post No. 528.

Tom was born Dec. 31, 1926, in Cascade, Iowa, the son of Aloysius and Olivia (Loes) Strang. He received his primary education in the Cascade area country schools. He received his GED in Manchester. He attended Kirkwood Community College's truck driver training program. On Sept. 25, 1954, at St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, he and Rosemary Vorwald were married. He was employed as a cattle buyer for Dubuque Packing House. He farmed in rural Cascade and Buchanan counties with his wife, Rosemary, for most of his life, renting the land out in Buchanan County for the last several years. He was an over the road trucker with his son, Bill, and worked for Airborn Express and DHL for several years before retiring from professional driving in 1995.

He was an Army veteran having served in the Korean War in the European division as a tank driver. He was a member of the Ryan American Legion Post No. 0692 and St. Matthias Parish in Cascade. He traveled to Europe twice, once for his military service and again to attend his daughter, Rebecca's wedding in Sweden. He traveled with his wife, Rosemary, throughout the United States and Canada visiting and traveling with his children and grandchildren. He loved playing cards and watching Iowa Public Television and nature programs. He always kept up with the news and the farm reports and markets. He and his wife, Rosemary, raised at one time or another cash crops, cattle, dairy cows, hogs, horses, sheep, ducks, chickens and turkeys. He loved visiting with his siblings, in-laws and friends. Most of all, he loved visiting with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was especially devoted to his Catholic faith and his late wife, Rosemary. He was a wonderful storyteller and a quick wit.

The family is especially grateful to Evergreen and Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids for their great care of Tom these last several years.

He is survived by eight children, Sheila (Deacon Dave) Sallen of Fort Madison, Alan (Kathy) Strang of Knoxville, Kathleen Knight of Ely, Thomas (Debra) Strang of Grimes, Mary (Mike) Thornton of Newell, Rebecca (Hokem) Ljungqvist of Stockholm, Sweden, William (Rita) Strang of Cedar Rapids and Wayne (Tara) Strang of Planto, Minn.; 23 grandchildren; 19 (and two on the way) great-grandchildren; four siblings, Rosemary Turnis of Marion, Alan (Evedeen), John (La Vonne) and Deacon Steven (Nancy) Strang of Cascade; and in-laws, Father Aloysius Vorwald, Darlene Vorwald and Ethel Vorwald.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Rosemary in 2010; an infant brother, Phillip; three sisters, Winona Schlemme, Phyllis Gross and Jane Anne Greenwood; and one infant granddaughter, Virginia Rose Sallen.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.reifffuneralhome

inc.com.