Charles William Strain went to his heavenly home on November 13, 2016 to be with his wife of 33 years and the mother of their children, Daniel, Tom, Richard and daughter Jodi. He was 94 years old.
Charles was born and raised in Fairbury Nebraska and attended school in Fairbury. His father was a plumber and he helped him until he went into the service. On February 14, 1942 he married Verda Fry. He served in the Army Air Force, stationed in England after his armament training in the United States. He was a 45 caliber pistol marksman and a carbine marksman. He received the Air Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and Good Conduct medal. He was a waist gunner on B24's with 42 missions over France, Germany and Belgium. He was discharged on July 19, 1945. He moved to Crete in 1945 and worked for plumbers and drove truck until he started working at the Crete Mills in 1945.
His family enjoyed camping and fishing. Verda passed away in September 1974. After his release from the Crete Mills he went to work at Farmland Foods, which had just finished building. He was the first employee of the plant in 1975. He retired after 10-1/2 years as boiler operator and maintenance worker.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Alma, sons Tom and Segrid, Richard and Roberta, daughter Jodi and Dennis Schlake, 13 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren, step daughters Diana Pomajzl, Agnes Snyder, Roberta Strain, brothers and sisters-in-law Leonard and Florence Kraus, Irene and Robert Boshart, Alvin Kraus and Mabel Sysel. He was preceded in death by son Daniel, at 3 years of Leukemia, wife Verda, 2 sisters and step son Gayle Kovar.
Graveside services will be held on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery with a funeral service following at 11:00 a.m. at the United Church of Christ, First Congregational in Crete. Military honors provided by Crete VFW & Legion. Viewing will be on Wednesday from 11-8 at Kuncl Funeral Home in Crete. Memorials are in care of the family for future designation.