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Edna Claire Strobel, age 94, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 27, under loving care at the Birch Adult Foster Care home where she had been a resident for six and a half years. Edna was born on October 21, 1918 to Alfred and Eunice (Chamberlain) Avery. On March 24, 1940 she married Frederick Perrin Strobel at her parents home. They moved to the Strobel family farm that was purchased in 1928 and lived there for all their 55 years together. Fred and Edna enjoyed traveling to northern Michigan, the company of their many friends, and especially their grandchildren. Fred passed away on September 17, 1995. Edna was also preceded in death by three brothers: Donald, Alan and Cleon Avery.
Edna and Fred had two children: Alfred (Betty) Strobel and Helen (Jim) Haase. Dearly beloved are her grandchildren John (Georgi) Persons II, Jerry (Shawn) Persons and Bryan (Rachel) Strobel. She has three step grandchildren: Terry Parris, Dean Parris and Nadine (Bob) Yoder. She was great-grandmother to seven, great-great grandmother to one, step great-grandmother to five, and step great-great grandmother to three. Edna also has many dear nieces and nephews; she often said how she always felt blessed by her family.
Edna graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1936 and kept a friendship with five special girlfriends who were known as the “36ers”. She worked at the J.D. Wade Law office for 4 years prior to her marriage. Edna has been a long time member of the Lockport Women’s Club, was a volunteer of the American Cancer Society for more than 30 years, and taught Sunday school for many years. She loved flower gardening and traveling with family whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Edna was a gentle woman of faith, always smiling, never complaining, full of grace. She was a blessing to all who knew her and she will be sorely missed. Visitation will be Sunday from 5 – 8 pm at the Eley Funeral Home in Centreville and on Monday from 10 – 11 am at the Three Rivers Bible Church where a service of celebration will follow at 11 am. Interment will be in the Moorepark Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider the American Cancer Society, 1400 West Milham, Portage, MI 49024, 269-349-8719, www.cancer.org or Birch Adult Foster Care, 30895 King Road, Leonidas, MI 49066. Online messages may be left for the family at www.eleyfuneralhomes.com.
