Jody Stricker

Joan (Jody) Stricker, 85, of Fergus Falls died peacefully on Friday, November 24, 2017 at the Woodland Lodge.

She was born June 23, 1932 in Blair, NE to Walter and Golda (Smith) Petersen.  She grew up and attended school in Blair and graduated from Blair High School.  She then attended Dana College in Blair and earned a degree in teaching.  Jody taught school in Fremont, NE for three years.  She met her future husband, Augie Stricker, while she was in high school and he was attending Dana College.  Jody and Augie were married on July 12, 1953 in Blair.  They moved to Columbus, OH where Augie was employed with North American Aviation.  In 1957, they moved to Omaha, NE and in 1966, they moved to Fergus Falls where Augie established Great Plains Natural Gas Company.

Jody had a strong and contagious faith in God and a love for people.  She loved her church and community.  She taught Sunday school and Wednesday school at Grace United Methodist Church.  Jody was also a member and served as president of the United Methodist Women’s Group.  She served on the mission commission for many years and volunteered for Christmas in the attic and was part of circle and Bible study.  Jody delivered meals on wheels to shut-ins and spent countless hours visiting and caring for people of all ages.  She could find the good in every person she met.  She was also was an active member of PEO, Antiquarians and many bridge clubs.  Jody, along with Augie, was on the founding committee of the Fergus Falls area Young Life organization.  She had a special love of horses and especially enjoyed the time she spent with her family.

Jody is survived by her three children and eight grandchildren: Julie (Chuck) Welle – Caitlyn (Philip) Pulitzer, Sarah (Jesse) Nelson and Evan Welle, Alan (Denise) Stricker – Cameron and Elliot Stricker, and Emily (Len) Kretchman – Chloe (Derek) Smith, Elly and Maggie Kretchman; a great-grandchild, Charlie Nelson and a sister, Gay (Dale) Crandell of Grand Island, NE.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Augie, in 2010 and one sister, Madge Smith.

Memorials are preferred to Grace United Methodist Church and Young Life.

Visitation: Tuesday, November 28, 2017 from 4:30 to 6:30 P.M. with a prayer service at 6:30 P.M. at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls and resuming for one hour prior to the service at the church.

Funeral Service: Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at Grace United Methodist Church.

Burial: Private family interment.

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls

Condolences: www.glendenilson.com

Jody's Memorial Folder