Theodore "Bear" Strommer

JONESBORO - Theodore "Bear" Lidel Strommer, 70, of Jonesboro, passed from this life Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. Bear was born in Rockford, Ill., to Erwin and Betty Melau Strommer on Sept. 2, 1952.

When he was young, he and his family lived in New Milford, Ill., where he started to make lifelong friends. As he got older, he and his family moved to Minnesota but he ended up moving back to Illinois to start a family and eventually ended up living in Arkansas.

He inherited the gift to gab from his father and the nature to love from his mother. At an early age, he began to love movies and music. He often reminisced about watching movies at the drive-in movie theater as a child, volunteering at Camp Rotary as a teen and being part of the Army Reserves.

He worked in the electrical supply field for many years. He could draw, sing and write stories but most of all, he made sure to let everyone know that he loved them.

He loved his parents, all of his brothers, all of his children, his wife and everyone that his heart could reach out to.

Survivors include his wife, Michele Townsend Strommer; his children, Adam (Trina) Strommer, Tim (Corrie) Strommer, Wesley (Alyssa) Painter and Caroline (Forestt) Greeno; his brothers, Don Strommer, Tim Strommer, Dan (Gwen) Strommer and Allan (Deborah) Strommer; and nine grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Erwin and Betty Strommer, his brother, Joe Strommer, and his son, Matthew Strommer, who he has long awaited to walk with in the heavens up above.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Emerson Memorial Chapel in Jonesboro. Visitation will take place at 1 p.m., one hour prior to the service.

The family would like to thank his trusted physician, Darlene Shipman, his sweet nurse, Chelsea, Sister Vijaya, and the staff of the Hospice House for the excellent care Bear received during his stay.