Lawrence George Strabala

1937 - 2022

Lawrence George Strabala, 85, died peacefully Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, at home surrounded by family. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Father Gary Beckman officiating. Visitation will be Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Friends of the Animal Center Foundation, Iowa City. Larry was born Nov. 9, 1937, in Richmond, Iowa, the son of Wino and Villa (Schmitt) Strabala. He attended Holy Trinity School in Richmond and was a graduate of Kalona High School. On June 10, 1978, Larry married Kathleen Hein. Larry was employed at NCS for over 30 years, retiring in 2000. Larry was a member of St. Wenceslaus Church and the Johnson County Senior Center and its choir. He was a gentle and generous man with a heart of gold and a sense of humor. He loved to share his jokes. Larry rescued Chow dogs, played the harmonica, and loved to read and listen to music. Larry is survived by his sons, Douglas Strabala, Jason (Rhonda) Waters and Matthew (Karen) Strabala, all of Iowa City; three grandchildren, Atticus and Ellis Strabala and Nolan Waters; his very special friend, Rita Champion; a large extended family and his beloved four-legged companion, FiFi. Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen; brothers, James and Maurice; and sisters, Mary Connelly, Lola Strabala. Eileen Armbruster, Rita Dull and Lois Armbruster. The family would like to extend their appreciation to Iowa City Hospice for all the care they provided to Larry. Online condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com.