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Our loving father and grandfather, Robert Henry "Balin' Wire Bob" Strack, went
to be with his Lord on Friday, August 17, 2012 after battling Alzheimer's disease
and pneumonia.
He is once again with LaMerne, love of his life and wife of 57 years.
Born in Osceola, SD on October 7, 1922, youngest of two boys, he lived his "formative years"
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Sidney, Montana. After serving in the Pacific Islands during World War II
and being awarded two Purple Hearts, he returned to the sweetheart he had met in the church youth
group. After marrying in Missoula, Montana, they raised two children, moving from here
to there, always seeking a better job, "for the kids".
During this time "Balin' Wire Bob" was a country/-western music performer and radio disk
jockey who had a coast-to-coast radio program and rightly earned the "Mr. D.J. USA" award
in 1956. Last year he was inducted into the Western Swing Hall of Fame in recognition
of the work he did both performing and spinning records, advancing his
favorite Western-Swing music.
Bob had a long list of endeavors to fill his life: beet farmer, cattle rancher,
musician, song writer, radio disk jockey, actor, university graduate, teacher,
fisherman, husband, father, grandfather.
He and "Mernie" retired to Vancouver, Washington, where he focused on giving care and support
to his one true love through her long battle with health issues. After his wife's death, Bob moved
to Everett, Washington, where he lived out his days with his daughter and her family.
Bob is survived by daughter, Susan Pellegrini and husband, Barry, of Everett, Washington and son,
Bob and wife, Joyce of Missoula, Montana.
He also leaves five beloved grandchildren (Lisa Hensley, Brian Strack, Debbie Herrington, Anthony Pellegrini and Laurie Prati), and 14 great-grandchildren, as well as many, many people around the country who have called him "friend". He was preceded in death by wife, LaMerne; and daughter, Patricia Annette.
The ashes of Bob and LaMerne will be returned to his beloved Montana.
A memorial service will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church in Marysville, on Saturday,
August 25, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's research.
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