Ronald V. Strauser

Ronald "Ron" Verne Strauser, 68, of Cedar Falls, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease on Monday, December 19, 2011, at the Strawberry Point Lutheran Home, Strawberry Point, Iowa. He was born May 3, 1943 in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the son of Clyde Albert and Carmen (Ryan) Strauser. Ron married Joanne Dokken on August 27, 1966 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1961 and from Dunwoody Industrial Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1966. Ron worked as a mechanic with his dad in the Strauser Motor Service family business, a draftsman with Control Data, Black Hawk Engineering, the John Deere Tractor Works, and as a tool designer for the John Deere Engine Works, retiring after thirty-three years of service with John Deere. He proudly served his country in the Army National Guard-133rd Infantry Division. Ron was an avid outdoorsman. He loved canoeing, mushroom hunting, trout fishing, duck hunting, backpacking, camping, and hiking and travelling in the western United States. Ron is survived by his wife, Joanne Strauser, of Cedar Falls; one son, Ryan James (Amy) Strauser, of Denver, Colorado; one daughter, Stephanie Strauser, of San Diego, California; two grandchildren, Colin and Cameron Strauser of Denver, Colorado; his mother, Carmen Strauser, of Cedar Falls; one sister, Jeanne (Bob) Handberg, of Stillwater, Minnesota; two brothers, Greg (Deb) Strauser of Delhi, Iowa and John (Nancy) Strauser of Cedar Falls; two honorary children, Amber Clifton (Anthony) Ilax and Bobby Sherwood, both of Waterloo; six nieces and nephews and nine great nieces and nephews. Ron was preceded in death by his father. Funeral services will be 1:30 pm Friday, December 23, 2011, at Nazareth Lutheran Church, with burial at Fairview Cemetery, both in Cedar Falls. Military honors will be conducted by Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 pm Thursday, December 22, 2011, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home and one hour before service at the church. Memorials may be directed to Strawberry Point Lutheran Home and Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. Online condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com.