Falls City business owner Harry L. Strasil Jr. passes away

    Falls City business owner and former Fire Chief Harry L. Strasil Jr. passed away last Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016 at Falls City Healthcare Community. “Junior” was 72.
    A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 19, 2016 at Prichard Auditorium, with Pastor Ben Moore and Rev. John Hogue officiating. Junior Jr. donated his body to Creighton University School of Medicine and interment at Steele Cemetery will be held at a later date. Friends may sign a guest book at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home, Falls City, during regular business hours.
    Harry Lou Strasil Jr. was born in Falls City on Feb. 27, 1944 to Helen Samantha (Miller) Strasil and Harry Lou Strasil Sr.
    He attended Falls City High School and joined the Navy in 1962. He was attached to mobile construction, Battalion 3. Harry was separated from service in 1965 and served in the active reserve until discharge in 1968. He worked for Triangle Electric Co. and Silver Star Shows. He owned his own businesses, Jr’s Portable Welding, and Strasil Bros. Blacksmithing and Welding.  
    Harry married Sylvia Colleen (Braman) Strasil on Feb. 26, 1968 and they were married 36 years until her passing. He married Carolyn Cook on March 12, 2005. He was a past president and newsletter editor for the National Blacksmiths and Welders Association, past president and Board of Directors member for Nebraska Blacksmiths, Welders and Machinist Association and was also the past president of the Southeast Nebraska Blacksmiths Association where he also served as secretary, treasurer and newsletter editor for 30 years.
    He was a member of the FC Fire Dept. for over 25 years and was Fire Chief for 11 of those years.  He was a charter member of the DAV Chapter 43 in Falls City and served as an officer for many years. He taught layout and welding classes at several Vocational Technical Schools in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. He was also a member of the Prairie Blacksmiths Association and did demonstrations across the country.
     He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Helen; his wife, Sylvia (2004); and his son, Jeff (1987).
     Harry is survived by three daughters, Melissa (Sam) Morgan, of Falls City, June (Aaron) Tilton, of San Antonio, TX, and Dee (Adam) Blankenship, of Great Bend, KS; two step-daughters, Carrie Simpson, of Bonner Springs, KS, and Stephanie (Jeff) Otis, of Independence, MO; grandchildren, Kenneth Strasil, Nicole Auker, Shane Tilton, Sean Cochran, Molly Tilton, Clinton Morgan, Leighton and Josh Simpson, Melania and Landon Otis; and one great-grandchild, Thor Strasil.
     Jr. has donated his body to Creighton University School of Medicine.
     A memorial service will be held at Pritchard Auditorium on March 19, 2016 at 5:00 P.M. with Pastor Ben Moore and Reverend John Hogue officiating. Interment will be in Steele Cemetery at a later date. Friends may sign a guest book at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home during regular business hours.
The family prefers birthday cards instead of sympathy cards since Juniors birthday is February 27th.

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