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Master Sgt. Ret. James E. "Jim" Strasser, 77, of 630 Lee St., Wisconsin Rapids, died Saturday, May 12, 2012, at the Palliative Care Unit at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield.
In Jim's memory, there was full military rites at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the VFW Post No. 2534 Lodge at 2711 Reddin Road, Wisconsin Rapids. Military rites were performed by VFW Post No. 2534 of Wisconsin Rapids and the U.S. Marines.
Jim was born Aug. 1, 1934, in the Bronx, New York City, to Lester and Fay Strasser. He married A. Lorene "Lori" Hill on March 23, 1957, in Las Vegas. Jim proudly served in the U. S. Marines from May 16, 1953, until Aug. 1, 1983. During that time, he served in both the Korean War and Vietnam War, earning a Bronze Star for combat valor.
Jim was a life member of the Marine Air Traffic Control Assn., the Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he served as commander from 2001 to 2004, the Wisconsin Rapids Police Academy Alumni Assn., the Clan McLean International in Scotland, Australia and the U.S., the Wisconsin Supreme Court Lawyer Regulation Committee, was a volunteer for the McMillan Library for five years, served on the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune Editorial Board, the Wood County Veterans Memorial Committee and the Wisconsin Rapids World War II Memorial Committee.
Jim was proud of his Scottish heritage, and had many interests which included military history, sports – especially the New York Yankees, Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers – word puzzles, reading, community affairs and veteran's affairs and assisted with many veteran programs. Jim also enjoyed Japanese and Asian history and culture and was a teacher in both Japan for five years and the U.S for five years.
Jim is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lori; son of Jacksonville, N.C.; two daughters, of Wisconsin Rapids and Mount Prospect, Ill.; stepchildren, of Cranberry, Penn., and Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; two brothers; 16 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and stepsons, Rodger Wright and Mike Carmichael.
"Jim is a Marine's Marine and for the past five years has been sending a certificate, which signifies his appreciation, to the families of fallen Marines throughout the United States."
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