Obituary of Robert Louis Stray

Robert Louis Stray Sr., age 86, of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, died Tuesday, November 24, 2009. Robert was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 29, 1923, the son of Grover H. and Clara (Bolsky) Stray. On November 29, 1941, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Robert married Louise Schultz. He served in the Marine Corps, 4th Division, 25th Regiment during WWII seeing duty in the South Pacific. Robert was employed as a City of Milwaukee Police Officer for 5 years and then was a Teamster driving semi for 30 years, retiring in 1973 due to health problems. Robert enjoyed crossword puzzles and loved to play rummy, enjoying winning everyone�s quarters. In the �antiquing world� he was known as Colonel Stray where he loved buying, selling and collecting antiques. He was a member of Faith Community Church in Fort Atkinson where he served as an usher. Robert also worked at the Daily Bread Program and enjoyed drinking coffee anywhere he could find it, especially if it was "free". Surviving are: wife, Louise Stray; daughter, Gail Hoyle; son Robert J. (Judy) Stray, Jr.; daughter, Linda (Robert E.) Lee; sister, Luella Librizzi; brother, Louis (Carol) Stray; sister, Anna Marie (Donald) Maloney; sister-in-law, Helen Stray; grandchildren; Connie Hoyle (Jim Ross), Lisa Lee Petersen, Brian (Nita) Stray, Craig Hoyle, Robert E. (Melissa) Lee II, Tami Lee (Sam) Popham, Penny Stray Osmon, great-grandchildren; Lindsay Krystyne Hoyle, Robert E. Lee III, Tori Lee Popham, Allison Grace Lee, Lucas James Stray, Myra Lynn Stray, Isaac Joseph Osmon, and many nieces and nephews. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, son-in-law, Buck Hoyle; brother, Grover Stray; sister and brother-in-law, Caroline (Eugene) Reuter; and brother-in-law, Roy Librizzi. Funeral service will be held on Monday, November 30, 2009, at 11am, at Nitardy Funeral Home Chapel, Fort Atkinson, with Pastor Don Christianson officiating, with burial to follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Friends may call on Sunday, Novenber 29, 2009 from 5-7pm at Nitardy Funeral Home, Fort Atkinson, and on Monday from 10am until the time of service. Those wishing an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial to Faith Community Church, W5949 Hackbarth Road, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538, or Rainbow Hospice Care Inc., 147 W. Rockwell Street, Jefferson, WI 53549.