Submitted by: Dan Rich
Erhart A. Strohm
Jan. 31, 1913 - March 22, 2001
Erhart A. Strohm, 88, of River Pointe Place, Mishawaka, Ind., and wintered in Vero Beach, Fla., died unexpectedly after a brief illness at 6:50 a.m. on Thursday, March 22, in the Saint Jo-seph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Ind.
Mr. Strohm was born on Jan. 31, 1913, in Traverse City, Mich., to the late Earhart A. and Anna (Newman) Strohm.
Mr. Strohm moved to Mishawaka in 1942, and soon after started the Strohm Construction Company, building homes and commercial structures in the area. The business expanded to include lumber and hardware sales. In 1954, ground was broken for a new hardware and lumber sales store on East McKinley Avenue. Affiliating with Cotter and Company, Mr. Strohm was among the first True Value Hardware Stores member/owners. The business was later incorporated as McKinley Lumber and Hardware. The store underwent major building expansion in 1984, and soon was one of the leading True Value Stores and independent lumber companies in Michiana. In 1990, Erhart Strohm sold the business to Big C Lumber.
Mr. Strohm and his wife, Charlotte Raab (who currently resides at Southfield Village, South Bend), celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in January 1993. They had spent winters at their ocean-side residence in Vero Beach. Mr. Strohm was a member of the Morris Park Country Club and was a life member of the South Bend Elks Club.
Preceding him in death was his son, Thomas Joseph Malia, who died in an automobile accident in 1960, the year of his graduation from Notre Dame University.
Mr. Strohm is survived by his sister, Sylvia Weaver of Traverse City, Mich.; two daughters, Anna Marie (Gerald) Robinson of Columbus, Ohio, and Patricia Rose (Patrick) McIntee of Mishawaka; two sisters-in-law, Angeline Goeller of Mishawaka and Rose Mary Raab of Edwardsburg, Mich.; five grandchildren, Timothy McIntee of Santa Fe, N.M., Christine Probst of Granger, Ind., Brian and Colin McIntee of Mishawaka, and Kelly McIntee of Niles, Mich.; and by 10 great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. today, March 25, in the Thallemer-Goethals Funeral Home, 503 W. 3rd Street, Mishawaka, where a Rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 26, in Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Mishawaka, with Fr. Ronald Raab (Mr. Strohm's nephew) officiating. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Queen of Peace School, 4508 Vistula Road, Mishawaka, IN 46544-4054.