Austin LeRoy Strouse

Lee was born on February 21, 1934, to Austin Leroy Strouse Sr. and Jeanette Jane (Fall) Strouse in Chicago, IL, and lived most of his life in Oakbrook and Elmhurst, IL. He was a truly good man who dedicated his life to the service of others and lived each day “as well as he could.”

Lee graduated high school in 1952, and Hanover College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science in 1956. During his time at Hanover, Lee was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, which laid the groundwork for a lifetime of dedicated service to others. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1956, where he served for two years before being honorably discharged in October of 1958.

One of Lee’s proudest accomplishments was being a self-employed business owner for over 40 years. His business, Wordcraft, was a marketing, advertising, and public relations ad agency in Chicago. There, Lee helped create brochures for his clients, including the Astrodome, and the Indie 500. He was also an editor for the Copressco Newsletter. In addition to his illustrious career, Lee served on the Board of Directors for several community and business organizations such as the YMCA and Toastmasters. He was a Rotarian for 35 years, served as a president for two different chapters, and chaired training sessions for over 200 incoming Rotary officers and committee chairs. Lee was also an ordained Deacon in the Presbyterian Church, serving God and community faithfully throughout his long life.

In his spare time, Lee was an accomplished amateur photographer, taking beautiful photographs from the fjords of Finland to Islands of Greece, and throughout his travels in America. He also appreciated a good film and enjoyed watching movies whenever he could.

In 1960, Lee married Joan McLetchie, with whom he shared 57 wonderful years of marriage before her death in 2017. Lee was a man who was lucky in love, a proud father of two sons and a husband of not one, but two, admirable women. In 2019, shortly after moving to McDowell Village, a senior living facility of Scottsdale, AZ, Lee met Roberta (Eccleston) Crane. Roberta lived across the hall from Lee, which she had moved into following the death of her husband, Cal. A whirlwind romance from seemingly nowhere surprised everyone. Both Lee and Roberta believed that Cal and Joan orchestrated their relationship from Heaven, bringing them love and companionship from beyond the grave. It is a beautiful thing to find someone to share your life with; but to find that kind of love twice? It is nothing short of a miracle.

Lee and Roberta began their courtship during the height of the Covid-19 Pandemic. They found time for hours long talks and emails to get to know one another. They were married on September 21, 2020, in the small chapel at McDowell Village. A socially distanced wedding, they wore color matching face masks with only the priest and their witnesses in attendance. The ceremony was live streamed to family and friends over Zoom, who all tuned in from across the country to show their love and support through their computer screens.

Lee spent the last five years of his life with Roberta, who gave him love and friendship, a companion to keep the loneliness of old age at bay. Together, they went on several cruises, including an Alaskan cruise for a belated honeymoon, and a Canadian cruise which brought them past parts of the Lewis and Clark trail. He spent time with Roberta’s family in AZ and Hawaii and marveled at the Crane family’s talent for baking. They watched college football and baseball games together (go ASU!), and hosted Christmas Eve tamale dinners at their apartment. Lee and Roberta filled each other’s lives with joy, and he will be deeply missed.

“No one more than he, could truthfully say when he went to his last resting place — I have fought the good fight. I have finished my work and above all I have kept the faith.” ~Sigma Chi Fraternity

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Lee is preceded in death by his parents, Austin, and Jane (Fall) Strouse; his sister Shirley Jane (Strouse) Boggiano; his sons, David, and Jeffrey Strouse; and his wife, Joan A. (McLetchie) Stouse.

He is survived by his loving wife, Roberta Lee (Eccleston, Crane) Strouse; daughter-in-law, Rosario “Rusty” Strouse (David); granddaughter, Maria Lourdes Strouse; nieces, Judy, and Lisa Boggiano; and many loving friends and extended family.

Lee will be laid to rest beside his wife, Joan, and their two sons at Green Acres Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 7th at 11:30 am at Green Acres Mortuary & Cemetery 401 N. Hayden Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85257.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable donation in Lee’s name to ShelterBox USA at https://donate.shelterboxusa.org/