Irvin Strand

Irvin Strand, age 96, of Brighton, Colorado passed away February 1, 2026 at Rocky Mountain Regional Medical Center in Colorado.

Funeral services will take place Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in the Newell Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the CHURCH. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

He was born on January 11, 1930, in Cylinder Iowa. At time of death, he was living in Brighton, Colorado. However, he lived most of his life in the Storm Lake area. The majority of his retirement years were spent in McAllen, Texas.

Irvin was raised on a farm in Depew, Iowa. During the Korean War, he served in the United States Army, as a tank driver. After leaving military service, he drove trucks for several years. He delivered mobile home trailers out of Indiana, to many different states. He also delivered dairy and other types of products before spending several years at Newell Elevator. After Newell Elevator he worked for many years at Wilson Foods, in Cherokee, until his retirement.

Irvin loved to ride his Goldwing motorcycles. He rode his motorcycle through almost every state. He attended the Sturgis motorcycle rally 25 years in a row. He continued riding into his 80s. As a younger man, he loved to hunt and fish, although he did not eat fish. He loved camping and boating. He inspired the love of camping, hunting, fishing and motorcycling in his children. During his last 3 years, in Colorado, he enjoyed going to the senior center and building small wooden cars with Toys for God's Kid's. He loved handing these cars out to little children in stores and restaurants.

When Irvin got out of the military, he married Altabel Paulsen on April 24, 1955, at the Nain Lutheran Church in Newell, Iowa. They loved camping, dancing, riding motorcycles and putting puzzles together. They often communicated with each other on two way CB radios, and belong to Western, Iowa Breakers CB club, their handles were T-bone and Sparerib! They were also very active in Cub Scouts, Webelos and Boy Scout as troop leaders. They had five children, many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Preceded in death are parents, Arthur & Irene Strand (Oneson); wife Altabel Strand; 2nd wife Eleanor Strand (Bruce); children Anita McGowan (Strand) Irvin Bruce Strand, Marvin James Strand; grandchildren Bruce Irvin (BJ) Strand, Infant Twins Brook & Parker Saito; siblings Lloyd Strand, Doris Paulsen, Bette Legler, and Mary Mausehund.

Irvin was survived by David Lee Strand & wife, Ella Strand; Paul Arthur Strand & wife Renee Strand; daughter-in-law, Sylvia Marie Strand; grandchildren Tyler & (Sara)Strand, Heather & (Curtis) Saito, Carson & (Jackie) Holliday, and Holly & (Will) Vega; great grandchildren Vivian Strand, Kadence & Bailey Saito, Melissa, Dustin, Noelle, Caleb, & Brendin Holliday, Victoria & Gabrielle Vega; and many nieces and nephews.