Joanna H. (Kruse) Strayer, age 98
Of New Knoxville, died on Friday, August 2, 2024 at the VanCrest of St. Marys. She was born on April 11, 1926 in Ferndale, MI. She was the daughter of Fred K. and Wilda E. (Stipp) Harrod. On September 24, 1944 she married Curtis E. Kruse who died on October 12, 1997. She then married Walter A. Strayer on August 25, 2001, and he preceded her in death on December 14, 2013. Left to cherish her memories are her children; Curtis “Mack” (Loretta) Kruse of Lancaster, OH., Barbara (Jessie) Wicker of New Knoxville, The Rev. Fr. Craig (Caryn) Kruse of Cathedral City, CA. and Gail (Scott) Foster of Sidney, nine grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and her brother Richard “Jack” Harrod of Lima. Also preceding Joanna in death were two grandchildren, one great grandchild, her brother Robert Harrod and her dear friend Carl Hoehne.
Joanna was a member of the New Knoxville Methodist Church where she had been very active over the years by singing in the church choir and serving as the custodian of the church. She was also active with the ACCA, was an avid reader, proud of her personal bowling accomplishments, playing different card games and enjoyed traveling around the country. She was also proud of being a homemaker and tending to many aspects of farm life. She maintained a large vegetable garden, raised chickens and sold the eggs produced to distributors in the Versailles area. Joanna was a fan and enjoyed watching sports, especially the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Browns.
A Memorial Service to honor Joanna’s life will be held on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at the New Knoxville Methodist Church with Revs. Sherwin Parmar and Dennis Gaertner officiating. The family will be receiving friends from 9 A.M. until the time of the services on Thursday at the church. Inurnment will be in the Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, New Knoxville. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the New Knoxville Methodist Church Memorial Fund or to Grand Lake Hospice. Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen is assisting the family, and online condolences can be left on the funeral home website at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.