Obituary for David Strah, Sr.

David Alan Strah, Sr.

March 16, 1943 – March 12, 2020

David Alan Strah, Sr. passed away at his home, surrounded by his wife and children on Thursday, March 12, 2020. A Rosary Service will be held Tuesday, March 17th, at 6pm at the Trout Funeral Home Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 10am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. David will be laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery following the Mass. Friends and loved ones may pay their respects on Monday, March 16th, from 1-8pm and Tuesday, March 17th, from 8am-8pm. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory.

David was the first born to Adolph and Ruth Strah, in Butte, Montana, March 16, 1943. He attended schools in Butte all the way through high school, where he graduated as Valedictorian. He then continued his education at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, earning a PhD in Chemical Engineering.

David met the love of his life, Ann Marie Kore, while in high school. After high school they married on June 12, 1965. Upon graduating from Montana State University, he took a job with Conoco as a chemical engineer, then for Conoco/Phillips, and finally for Penreco before retiring in Ponca City, OK.

Although David and Ann Marie would go on to raise four children, John, David, Cheri and Steven and call Ponca City their home, his heart was always with his true hometown, Butte, Montana. He loved the old mining town and cherished his time there while on family vacations. He loved being in Butte to see family and get out to one of his favorite rivers: the Bighole, the Madison, the Gallatin, or the Boulder River, and of course Georgetown Lake. He grew up fishing all of these places as a boy with his Dad and later loved fishing with his father-in-law, George E. Kore, brother-in-law George D. Kore, and his cousin Jim Sheehan.

David and Ann Marie were very involved with all four children in many activities: Swimming, Scouts, Band and anything the kids were interested in. He loved watching his children compete in all areas. One area that he was very involved in was the Ponca Sailfish Swim Team and the Ponca City High School Swim Team, where he was the booster club President (more than once) and was also General Chairman for Oklahoma Swimming. He helped in many areas to see the sport of swimming grow in the state.

Surviving David are his wife Ann Marie Strah of the home; son and daughter-in-law John and Traci Strah, grandchildren Jack Strah, Emily Strah and Kara Strah of Stillwater, OK; son and daughter-in-law David and Simone Strah, grandchildren Heather Harris and Rylee Strah of Ponca City, OK, Kayla and Austin Sims, great-grandchildren Cope, Bo and June Sims of Henderson, NV; daughter and son-in-law Cheri and Bryce Wallace, grandchildren Wesley Dixon of Ponca City, OK and Lucas Dixon who is on active duty with the United States Navy currently stationed in Japan; son Steven Strah, grandchildren Grace Strah and Christain Pinegar of Ponca City, OK . He is also survived by sister and brother-in-law Cathie and Bill Norton, Bozeman, Montana; sister Mary B Rowe, of Butte, Montana; sister and brother-in-law Mary E. and Tom Boucher, Butte, Montana; sister and brother-in-law Lori and Tim Gittens, Helena, Montana; sisters-in-law Steph Kore and Betty Keltz of Butte, Montana; Raelene Olsen of Butte, Montana; and many nephews, nieces and cousins.

Preceding David in death were parents Adolph and Ruth Strah, sister and brother-in-law Bonnie and John Gordon, nephew Tony Gordon, in-laws George and Veronica Kore, and brother-in-law George Kore.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Foundation, www.apdaparkins.org or to St. Mary’s School at 415 S. 7th St., Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home