Carol Jean Strasheim

A native of Beatrice, Nebraska, she was raised in a single-parent household by her mother, Marie McCown. Surrounded by a loving family in Beatrice, Carol developed friendships with her childhood family and friends that lasted a lifetime. Her father, Lorin McCown, went off to fight in WWII, was wounded and returned to the states to start a new family in California where Carol gained a half-brother, Lee McCown. Carol came to the ‘big city’ of Lincoln and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1954 where she was a proud and loyal member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She developed lifelong friendships with her “sisters."

Carol then met the love of her life, Don Strasheim. The two married on July 8th, 1956. Carol taught kindergarten while Don obtained a master’s degree and worked as an assistant football coach at UNL. Eventually Carol left teaching and together with Don raised their five children and built a successful business. Their love lasted a lifetime.

Carol was an avid Husker football fan and attended every home game with Don until 1989 when we lost him at a game. She continued to enjoy and support Husker sports for the remainder of her life. She valued education and demonstrated this by her generous assistance to her grandkids' educational pursuits. Her adventurous spirit came out during numerous trips across Europe and the United States with friends over the years. She was a member of a number of bridge clubs, playing with old friends while making many new ones. In fact, Carol made friends everywhere she went at every stage of her life. She loved her dogs about as much as she loved playing cards. Most of all, she loved her family, her friends and especially her grandchildren. Her love for them, and our love for her, will outlast our lifetimes.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Don, as well as her much-loved dogs: Buster, Sugar, Laika, and Rusty. She is survived by her children Tom Strasheim (Dana), Jim Strasheim (Anna), Steve Strasheim, John Strasheim (Lisa) and Ann Wenzl (Dan); and her 10 grandchildren: Jaret, Caden, Blake (Tom), Donald, John (Jim), Steven (Steve), Jackson, Sydney (John), Sarah and Sam (Ann).

A Celebration of Carol’s life will be held at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home & Cemetery on November 1, 2024. Memorial donations in memory of Carol can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or those wishing to make a memorial contribution to Horisun Hospice, please mail the memorial in memory of Carol Strasheim to:

Horisun Hospice

8055 O Street, Ste 300

Lincoln, NE 68510