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It is with great sadness that our family announces the death of our dad, Leo W. Strait, who passed away Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, peacefully at home.
Funeral Mass will take place Saturday, Oct. 11, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in St. James Catholic Cemetery in Clare. Visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 10, from 5-7 p.m. with Prayer Vigil at 7 p.m. and KC Rosary at 7:30 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Mabel Strait; his siblings: Lou Strait, Mary Isabel Stratton, Gilbert (Gib) Strait, Donald Strait and Raymond Strait; and his wife of 68 years, Madonna.
Leo is survived by his children: Cindy (Rick) Weaver, Deb Strait, Randy (Carol) Strait and Mike (Xavier); grandchildren: Tim (Carli) Hofferber, Emily (Billy) Lewis, Carrie (Chris) Rife, Jenny Weaver, Christie (Chris) Fox, Steven (Bridgid) Strait and Patrick Strait; great-grandchildren: Ryan Crockett, Max Weaver, Jace Lewis, Sydney (Thomas) Bernard, Nate Hofferber, Isaac Hofferber, Caleb Rife, Daisy Rife, Lily Rife, Eli Rife, Connor Fox, Chloe Fox, Casey Fox, Cora Fox, Copper Strait and Nolan Strait; great-great-grandchildren, Ulanni Crockett and Henry Bernard.
Leo was the youngest of six children born on a farm near Clare. He attended country school in his early years and graduated from St. Matthews High School in Clare in 1949.
After graduation he joined the Army National Guard at 17 and was elevated to active status soon after and deployed to Germany where he helped guard the Russian border as a firing officer.
He married Madonna Fitzgerald on Oct. 20, 1952, at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Clare. As his family grew, Leo became active in various civic roles in Clare, including founding member of the volunteer fire department, rescue unit, then fire chief, city clerk and others.
Leo worked for Phillips Petroleum for approximately 40 years in various roles, joining Thompson Oil Co. in Fort Dodge in 1957 and then establishing Strait Oil Co. in Storm Lake. In 1973, Strait Oil Co. expanded to include a U-Haul dealership and RV dealership. He retired in 1997.
Leo and Madonna shared a love of golf and travel. He played league golf for many years, and loved the camaraderie and social interactions, all while becoming a pretty good golfer. Upon retirement they adopted the snowbird lifestyle by purchasing a condo in Florence, Ariz., which he still owns.
Love of his family was always first. Leo treasured and took great pride in the times he was surrounded by children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren. His family loved to hear him tell stories about his life growing up, as well as his many adventures (from piloting an open cockpit stearman as a teen to skydiving at 89 years old).
Leo made many good friends throughout his life. He had endless curiosity about life, nature and people, and was always pursuing deeper understanding of the world around him.
He was unwilling to sit and let life come to him. Leo’s positive outlook and good common sense touched many lives.
