Edward Strantz

Edward W. Strantz, age 86 of Niles, Michigan died at 11:00 p.m. on Friday, December 27, 2013 at his home, unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

He was born on June 3, 1927 in South Bend, Indiana to Stephen and Barbara (Berfanger) Strantz. He was graduated from South Bend Riley High School, and had completed some courses at Indiana University South Bend. He was a member of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Union Local 75, and had been employed on several major construction sites including the Cook Nuclear Plant, area schools, and commercial buildings. He has lived in Niles since 1973.

Ed was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles, where he often served as an usher. He was also a member of the Concertina Mass Choir of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Edwardsburg. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving as a Corporal in the United States Army. He enjoyed working in his vegetable garden, and reading western novels.

On June 21, 1951 in South Bend he married the former Doreen A. Kasamis with whom he celebrated the fifty-sixth anniversary prior to her death on June 10, 2008. He was also preceded in death by his parents and by his sisters, Frances Wozniak and Anne Strantz and brothers Steve Strantz and John Strantz.

Surviving family includes sons, James (& Linda) Strantz of Fairfield, California, Jerome Strantz of South Bend, and Philip (& Susan) Strantz of South Bend; daughters Joanne Strantz of Vista, California and Patricia (& Jose Rodriguez) Strantz of Sierra Vista, Arizona; grandchildren Sarah (& Chris) Ano, James Strantz, Garrett (& Lizzy) Strantz, Adam (& Emily Legg) Strantz, Katherine Strantz, William Strantz, Andrea Lim, Theresa Haljean, Jose Rodriguez, and Gabriel Rodriguez; and Ed’s sister, Margaret Wieger of Niles, and many nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Edward Strantz will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 3, 2014 at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles by the Rev. David Otto of the parish. Committal Rites will follow at Highland Cemetery in South Bend and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Army Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with recitation of The Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Ed Strantz may be made to Saint Mary Catholic Church.