Wayne Strabala

1935 - 2022

WAYNE STRABALA Gilbert, Ariz. Wayne Strabala, 86, passed away in Gilbert, Ariz., on Jan. 17, 2022. Wayne was born to Omer and Martha Strabala on his parents' farm in Washington County, Iowa, on March 16, 1935. While serving in the Navy during the end of the Korean conflict, Wayne married Nancy Ellen Havel on May 18, 1957, at St. Mary's Church in Riverside, Iowa. They had six children and eventually settled in rural Coggon, Iowa, where he lived for 53 years. After Nancy passed away in 1994, Wayne married Connie Salas of Gilbert, Ariz., on March 16, 1996, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Prairieburg. This union added another daughter and two grandchildren to the family. Together, Wayne had seven children, 19 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren and enjoyed spending summers with Connie at their Iowa farm and winters at their home in Gilbert, Ariz., until settling fulltime in Gilbert in late 2020. Wayne was an incredibly hard worker for his entire life who began his post-Navy employment at the Telephone Company as a lineman before spending the bulk of his 30-plus year career as a test technician at Collins Radio (Rockwell International) in Cedar Rapids. Wayne also raised feeder pigs for many years on their small farm in the rural Coggon area while being an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Prairieburg for 53 years and St. Anne's in Gilbert the past two years. Wayne loved a good game of cribbage or dominoes, word puzzles, reading his daily newspapers and any amount of driving around the country to see many local or national sites. Wayne is survived by his wife, Connie Strabala of Gilbert, Ariz.; and his children, Christina (Alfred) Katool of Madison, Miss., Robert (Donna) Strabala of Verona, Wis., Richard (Monica) Strabala of San Mateo, Calif., Randall (Janae) Strabala of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Russell (Joyce) Strabala of Mechanicsville, Iowa, Rachelle Schoulte of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Raleigh (Jaimee) Strabala of Wiesbaden, Germany. Wayne is also survived by 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Wayne is survived by three brothers, Charles of Riverside, Thomas (Julia) of Mesa, Ariz., and Michael (Connie) of Cedar Rapids. Wayne was preceeded in death by wife, Nancy Strabala;one grandson, Tyson Schoulte; and brother, Lynne Strabala. Due to health and safety concerns, a small private family service was held in Gilbert, Ariz., on Jan. 22. Based on future health and safety situations, a Celebration of Life for Wayne is being planned in Iowa for close friends and family sometime in late February-March. Wayne had an intense compassion and concern for people suffering food insecurity and loved supporting local food pantries. The family suggests giving to an area food pantry in lieu of flowers or gifts, in order to continue Wayne's passion. A memorial has also been set up with donations to be shared at local church-based food pantries affiliated with his home areas and church congregations. Condolences and support may be shared with the family through any of Wayne's individual family members or the Gilbert, Ariz., home address.