Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at Holy Name

A Mass of Christian Burial for William “Bill” Strudthoff, 82, of Hawkeye was celebrated by the Rev. Dale Rausch on Saturday, March 9, at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union.

Burial followed in the West Union Cemetery with military honors conducted by Arnold-Rogers American Legion Post 312 of Hawkeye.

Burnham-Wood & S.K. Rogers Funeral Home in West Union was in charge of arrangements.

Bill’s death occurred Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wis.

William "Bill" Strudthoff, son of Otto and Ella Strudthoff, was born Dec. 4, 1930, in Hawkeye.

Following his graduation from West Union High School in 1948, Bill attended Upper Iowa University, from which he graduated in 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in education.

In addition, he graduated from the Iowa Auctioneering School in 1968.

Bill and Marjorie Minger were married in 1956 in Fayette and had been happily married for 56 years. 

After 29 years of teaching at Turkey Valley Schools, Bill retired in 1993.

An active member of his community, he was a member and served as military commander of the Hawkeye American Legion. Bill also served as a commissioner for the Fayette County Commission of Veterans Affairs and as president of Hawkeye Telephone Company. He enjoyed being the emcee for many years for the Hawkeye Fun Days parade. 

Bill was also an active member of the Farm Bureau Association, the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association Institute, and the REC. 

He was an advocate for education and sustainable agriculture. He was awarded the SWCD Conservation Owner of the Year Award from Fayette County in 2003.

Bill’s parents and a brother preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Marjorie, of Hawkeye; two sons, David (Denise) of Stoddard, Wis., and Paul of West Union; two daughters, Kim (Kelly) of Columbia, Mo., and Michelle of Vancouver, Canada; two grandchildren, Faith and Roan; and a brother, Bernard. 

Memorials may be directed toward the family for the establishment of a scholarship fund at North Fayette Valley and Turkey Valley schools.