Wesley Strei

Wesley Strei, age 89, of Big Stone City, SD, passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2019, at Fairway View Neighborhoods in Ortonville, MN.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, July 12, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rosen, MN. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2019, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church in Big Stone City, SD, with Rosary service to follow. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services on Friday. Interment will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Rosen.

Wesley Wayne Strei was born on April 12, 1930, to Hugo and Cecelia (Radermacher) Strei in Lac qui Parle County, MN. He attended rural school and graduated from Morris Ag School in Morris, MN. Wesley enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served from 1951 to 1953.

On June 7, 1955, Wesley was united in marriage with JoAnn Lanners in St. Leo, MN. Together, they had eight  children and made their home on a farm near Rosen, MN. Wesley and JoAnn later retired to their home near Big Stone City, SD. During his lifetime, Wesley was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rosen and St. Charles Catholic Church in Big Stone City.

Wesley was a member of the VFW, the Moose Lodge, and men’s league golf in Ortonville. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, reading, playing cards, and watching the Minnesota Twins. Wesley was a lifelong learner and loved going to the Ortonville Library.

Left to cherish his memory are his children: Constance Strei (Mike Morris) of Edina, MN; Stephen (Lori) Strei of Odessa, MN; Marlene (Greg) Cichy of Sun Prairie, WI; Anita Strei (Craig Dullinger) of Litchfield, MN; Margaret (Brian) Vorpahl of Willow Springs, IL; Richard (Marla) Strei of Big Stone City, SD; Douglas (Carrie) Strei of Montevideo, MN; and Angela (Jim) Noll of Elmhurst, IL; grandchildren: Katie (Matt), Rachel,     Andrew (Jena), Shelby (Austin),   Eric, Nathan, Tasha, Elise, Greta, Hannah, Natalie, Adam, Ashley (Jordan), Nichole (Michael), Anya, Liesl, and James; great-grandchildren: Jackson, Ana, and Charlie; and siblings;  Lola Mae Karels, LuAnn Hollis, Doreen Karels, Denis Strei, and Marlys Hoffman.

Preceding Wesley in death were his parents; his wife, JoAnn in 2001; and brothers, Willard Strei and Harold Strei.