Edgar Leroy Strong

Edgar lost his long battle with Alzheimer’s disease Friday, April 24th 2015. Ed was born 83 years ago in Ionia Michigan to Alice Kress Strong and Eldon Welch Strong. After his father died, he lived most of the time with his Aunt Josephine and Uncle Norman Strong and cousin’s Charles, John, Gary and Robert on a farm in Orleans, while attending Belding High School. After memorable high school years playing basketball, football, softball and showing a champion steer at the fair, Ed joined the U.S. Navy.

After the Navy, Ed attended Michigan State University, married his first wife, Ruth L. Clingensmith, and had two daughters. He graduated in 1959 with a BS degree in Agricultural Education.

Ed taught Agriculture at Mount Pleasant High School for two years, where he had a third daughter. He returned to Ionia in 1961 as the 4-H Agent, having two more daughters, and becoming heavily involved in the Ionia Free Fair.

Ed continued his career in Sanilac County where he was the Agriculture Agent from 1966 to 1971. He then moved to Hart as the Oceana County MSU Extension Director and became an asparagus expert. He retired from that position in 1989.

Ed lost his first wife in 1992 and married Ruth C. Anderson Hickok in 1994.

Ed was proud to have traveled to every state in the U.S. except Alaska. He wintered in Palm Springs but his farm in Hart is where his heart was. You could find him putting on the golf course or working in his fields.

Ed is survived by his wife Ruth C. Anderson Hickok Strong, Children: Lee (Dale) Wittkop, Kay (Mark) Butcher, Susan (John Brayman) Strong, Nancy (Peter) Bencker and Carol Strong and their children: Scott, Sarah, Emma, Analyse, Perry and Alexander. Step-Children: Rhonda (Jim) DaFoe, Nadine (Marty) Earley, Brenda (Jack) Boukma, Greg (Carrie) Hickok, Jeff (Lisa) Hickok, Andrea (Dave) Pinner and Renee (Ryan) Johnson and their children: Jason,Ann, Erin, Katrina, Shelby, Christopher, Kayleigh, Samantha, Jacob, Zack, Kelsey, Elana, Rebecca, Brendan, Caden, Sarah, and Sydney and the great grand-children: Carson, Carleigh, Cayla, Sophia, Riley, Declan, Kole, Kyndall, Kane, James, and Amy. He is also survived by his Sister JoEllen (Wally) Miller, Sister Marcia Pease, Brother Tom (Kim) Sullivan, and Brother In-Law Richard Meitz, as well as numerous Nieces and Nephews.

Ed was preceded in death by his first Wife Ruth L. Clingensmith, his Parents, Eldon and Alice Strong, Step-father Thomas Sullivan, Uncle Norman Strong, Aunt Josephine Strong and Sister Shurlie Meitz.

Please join the family to share stories, memories and pictures at a memorial celebrating Ed’s life being held May 9th, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Comfort Inn banquet room in Hart Michigan, with military honors being presented at noon.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to the Oceana County 4-H Council, 210 Johnson St., Hart MI 49420.