Roger John Strasman, 79, of Shawano, formerly of West Allis, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, July 27, 2018, at his home. Roger was born in Jacksonport on Aug. 18, 1938, to the late Archie and Ruth (Erskine) Strasman. Following high school, Roger enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country honorably for three years. On May 6, 1961, he was united in marriage to Carolyn “Cookie” Kalamen in New Berlin. The couple raised their family in West Allis, where Roger was captain of the West Allis Fire Department. After retiring, the couple moved to Shawano Lake in 1997. Roger was a great man. He was warm, caring, active, capable and a prankster with a great sense of humor. He loved children and was a foster dad for numerous infants over the years. Roger could always be found helping his neighbors, whether he was cutting down a tree or putting in a pier. He enjoyed flying airplanes in his younger years and was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish.
Roger is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carolyn; four daughters, Dawn (Thomas) Ganster, of Tigerton, Debra (Peter) Jacques, of Appleton, Doreen (Michael) Blattner, of Mukwonago, and Darcy (Peter Hurth) Strasman, of Sturgeon Bay; 18 grandchildren, Wendy (Justin) Diestler, Erin (Jacob) Klauck, Benjamin Ganster, Sarah Ganster, Nathan (Amber) Ganster, Anna (Karim) Yaghleji, Jonathan (Lakeisha) Ganster, Caleb Ganster, Elizabeth (fiancé Nicholas Boughton) Ganster, Ashley (Nathan) Hanson, Matthew (Julia) Jacques, Bryan (Kylie) Jacques, Danielle (Adam) Syvrud, Luke (Anna) Jacques, Bethany Jacques, Phillip (Kerry) Wirth, Jason Alan Wirth and Nicholas Blattner; 21 great-grandchildren, Josiah, Annaliese, Layla, Noah, Rachel, Addelyn, Jireh, Lily, Amira, Kavion, Lucy, Amelia, Edith, Sarayah, Elliana, Nolan, Logan, Hazel, Theo, Jonas and Michael. He is further survived by other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, Eric Ganster; his parents; and a sister, Judith.
A funeral Mass will be held at noon on Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Cecil with the Rev. Tom Farrell and Deacon Mike Grzeca officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Shawano American Legion Post 117. Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Martin’s Food Pantry or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.