Submitted by: Dan Rich
Oct. 6, 1954 - May 13, 1999
Frank Robert Strantz died on Thursday, May 13, due to an accident while working on a company tractor. He was the son of Bob and Trudy Strantz.
He was born on Oct. 6, 1954, spent his youth in Mishawaka, Ind., graduating from Mishawaka High School in 1974. He spent the last 24 years in the Napa Valley region of California. He was employed by Charles Krug Winery as chief mechanic.
Frank is survived by his wife, Laurie; children, Breanna, 12, and Corey, 10; foster children, Vanessa and Johanna; parents, Bob and Trudy; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Frank Muszynski; his four brothers: Chuck and his wife, Chris, and children, Scott, Catrice, Judah and Reuben; Mike of Pueblo, Colo.; Eric ''E'', his wife, Suzan, and children, Christopher and Kasee; Christopher of Lake Forest, Calif., and his sons, Jeremy and Jason; five sisters: Peg and Ron and her daughters, Sonya and Melissa; Elizabeth; Mary Beth and her husband, Mark and sons, Ryan and A.J.; Judy and her husband, Kenny and children, Frankie and Cassidy; Caroline and James of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and twins, Jesse and Jacob, expected to arrive in August; and by his many friends and co-workers.
Family members attended services on Monday, May 17, in the Morrison Funeral Chapel in St. Helena, Calif.
Frank's respect and love for all life, his passion for fishing and the environment is an inspiration for all who knew him. The countless memories we hold of Frank's life have helped us as we deal with the great sorrow and loss. He has left us with our own individual stories of his life touching ours. To build upon our memories, we add the freshness of his friends in Napa Valley. Their genuine love that was expressed for him was incredible. One of his friends declared with flowing tears, ''He was the most decent man I knew.'' Stories of his joking and kindness were repeated. Frank, you leave us with much, a legacy of a simple lifestyle that was true, compassionate, and mixed with loads of fun. We are thankful to God for his great kindness for Frank's family and for providing someone ''special'' to be with Frank as he left this life. A fund is being created for his children. A memorial and tree planting ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 5th.