Memorials

James Lyle Strack, age 86, of Columbia City, passed away at 6:50 a.m. on Friday, April 18, 2008 at his home.

He was born in Fort Wayne on April 13, 1922 to Charles L. and Pricilla (Frieburger) Strack.

He graduated from Central Catholic High School with the Class of 1940 and married Mary Ellen Fox on November 27, 1947 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Arcola. They have lived on the Strack Family Farm since 1955.

He worked for Pennsylvania Railroad from 1941-1955 and New Haven Wire & Cable as a machinist from 1955-1987.

He was a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Arcola, IN, Eagles Lodge #1906 and Moose Lodge, both of Columbia City, IN and Miami Nation of Indians. He is a member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and a descendant of Chief Jean Baptiste Richardville. Jim served for many years on the tribal council of the Indiana Miami Tribe.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Strack, Columbia City; 2 sons, Thomas (Loretta) Strack and Phillip Strack, Columbia City; 1 daughter, Cynthia Berghoff, Columbia City; five grandchildren, including Rodney (Gina) Strack, Columbia City; Jennifer Strack, Fort Wayne; Ryan (Rhonda) McCammon, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Rachelle (Cory) Patrick, Columbia City; and Tammy Berghoff, Columbia City; seven great-grandchildren, Hunter Strack, Drake Klopfenstein, Ethan and Eli all of Columbia City; Cody and Taylor Goshert, Warsaw, and Lewis McCammon, Ann Arbor, Michigan; two brothers, Godfrey (Rita) Strack, Fort Wayne, and Edward (Darlene) Stack, Denver, Ind.; three sisters, Catherine (Agustus) Nagy and Mary Swenda both of Fort Wayne, and Priscilla VanAllen, Columbia City.

He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Robert E. and Charles "Tony" Strack.

Visitation will be held from 2-8 p.m. with a 4 p.m. Rosary Recitation on Sunday, April 20, 2008 at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 21, 2008 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Arcola, with Father Cyril Fernandes officiating. Burial will be at Catholic Cemetery, Fort Wayne. Memorial bequests may be given in Mr. Strack's memory to masses to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, St. Jude's Children Hospital or Heartland Hospice. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

To send condolences to the family, sign the guest register book, please visit www.demoneygrimes.com