Passing of Brian Strayer's Father

written by Brian Strayer, professor of history at Andrews University

My father, George C. Strayer, was part of “The Greatest Generation.”  In 1943 at 18 he enlisted in the military.  The Navy wanted him, but he said, “I can’t swim and don’t want to be on a boat.”  So the Army took him and wanted him to be a sharpshooter, but he said, “The Germans have sharpshooters and they’ll be aiming at me.”  Dad fought in Gen. Mark Clark’s Fifth Army in Europe at Anzio Beach, Monte Cassino, and the Battle of the Bulge, rising to the rank of corporal.   

After the war he worked for the American Locomotive Company as a skilled machinist when the U.S. was replacing steam engines with diesel.  For 35 years Dad made the pistons for those engines.  He met my Mother, Doris White, at Edgett’s Ice Cream Parlor and she changed his life.  In 1948 she asked him to take Bible studies and become an Adventist; he did.  In 1949 she asked him to give up his bachelor’s status; he did.  In 1950 she asked him to eat his vegetables (“If you don’t the kids won’t eat them either!”); he did, and so do we today.

Dad loved watching TV Westerns, listening to “cowboy music” on the radio, and woodworking.  He raised many vegetables that we kids weeded, picked, and canned.  He refused to buy a dishwasher because, he said, “I have three already: Brian, Darlene, and Jerry.”  For 30 years he served as a deacon in the Auburn SDA Church, often mowing the church’s two-acre lawn after standing on his feet eight hours at the shop.  He hated camping (“I got all I wanted in the Army,” he said), but accompanied his kids on Pathfinder campouts nonetheless.

Dad died in his home town of Waterloo on October 7, 2015, at 90 with Doris, his wife of 66.5 years, at his side.  He is survived by his three children: Dr. Brian Strayer (Michigan), Darlene Strayer (Montana), and Jerry (Natalie) Strayer (New York) and two grandchildren.