Joseph Strotman, Jr.

Joseph ‘Joe’ Strotman, Jr. age 84, of Aurora died Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at Edgewood Vista in Grand Island.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, March 28th at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aurora. Fr. Dennis Hunt will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 P.M. Friday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary. The Rosary will be Friday at 4:00 P.M. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: JOSEPH STROTMAN, JR.

Joseph Anthony Strotman, Jr. the son of Joseph A. and Frances (Orendorff) Strotman, Sr., was born in Aurora, Nebraska on September 7, 1924 and was called home to our Lord on March 25, 2009 at Grand Island, Nebraska at the age of 84.

He attended Hopewell Country School and then Aurora High School, graduating with the Class of 1942. Joe was very active in the FFA, judging chickens and Holstein cattle on the county and state level.

On January 9, 1947 he married the love of his life, Dorothy Elaine Kolar at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Giltner and they shared 62 years of marriage together. They were blessed with three daughters: Rebecca Ann, Karla Jo and Shirley Jane. Joe spent his early years driving for Strotman Trucking and raising livestock. He then went on to farm the family farm for the rest of his life.

Joe was a devout member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aurora.

He was preceded in death by his parents and wife.

Those left to cherish his memory are his three daughters, Becky (Jim) Rathman, Karla Smith and Shirley Strotman all of Aurora and three grandchildren, Laurie Rathman & fiancé Brian Barry & daughter Jade Barry of Aurora, Jim Rathman & special friend, Jessica Olson of Gardner, Kansas and Jeff Rathman of Lincoln. He is also survived by his brother, Don (Bonnie) Strotman of Aurora; sister, Elaine (Jake) Penner of Grand Island; sister-in-law, Marjorie Neal of Lincoln and numerous nieces, nephews and many friends.