Michael J. Strom, 67, of Victoria, Illinois, passed away peacefully on September 25th, surrounded by his loved ones.
He was born in California on October 16, 1957, while his father was stationed in the military. Mike was the son of Pat Strom and Leah (Dykeman) Strom. He grew up in rural Williamsfield, Illinois, and graduated from Williamsfield High School with the Class of 1975. Mike was married to the love of his life, Julie (Moore) Strom, for 36 wonderful years.
He is survived by his devoted mother, Leah Strom of Williamsfield; siblings Doug (Marsha) Strom of Dahinda, IL; Rhonda (Barry) Sonboli of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; and Lee (Andrea) Strom of Seattle, WA. Mike was a proud father to three children: Angela (Tyler) Snow of Galesburg, IL; Tabitha “Tabby” Beardsley of Knoxville, IL; and Cody (Brittany) Strom of Dahinda, IL. He was a deeply loved grandfather to Wayne & Aubrey Beardsley, Noah Snow, and Mason, River, Milo, & Leo Strom. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Julie, and his father, Pat whom have now welcomed him home along with many other cherished family members.
A retired farmer, Mike was known for his strength, integrity, & dedication to the land. Farming & raising livestock was more than just a profession, it was his passion. Showing pigs with his children & going to all the different fairs was their summer vacation. He was a lifelong supporter of rural values, hard work, and agricultural youth programs. A dedicated 4-H volunteer, Mike was honored with the 4-H Alumni Award and remained an enthusiastic supporter of 4-H & FFA throughout his life. Mike was also an avid outdoorsman who found great joy in hunting & being in nature. He had a love for Westerns and rodeos and could often be found watching them in his downtime.
Though not a frequent game player, he always made time for his favorite family card game, pitch. If you are a “Strom” you learned pitch from a very early age. His greatest joy came from time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren, who brought endless pride and happiness into his life. Mike’s legacy of hard work, love for the land, and unwavering devotion to family will live on in all who knew him. He will be deeply missed.
Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1, at the Hurd-Hendricks Funeral Home in Knoxville, Illinois. Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, October 2nd, at 11 a.m. at the Williamsfield Cemetery, Williamsfield, Illinois. Fellowship will be at American Legion Post 371 Norman Legion Hall also Williamsfield, IL. Any food donations may be brought to the Legion Hall. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to the Family. On-line condolences and/or expressions of sympathy may be sent through www.hurd-hendricksfuneralhome.com
