Joseph Malcolm Stromer

Joseph Malcolm Stromer, 82, of St. Joseph, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home Thursday, August 16, 2012. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, August 20, 2012 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Terry Schneider officiating. Friends may visit from 2:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. Sunday, August 19, 2012 at the funeral home. A private burial will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Scottdale United Methodist Church or Sarett Nature Center. Those wishing to share a memory of Joseph online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Joseph was born May 19, 1930 in La Porte, Indiana to George and Olive (Fickle) Stromer. He grew up in New Buffalo working at his father’s South Michigan Nursery along with his two brothers, John and George (Dick). He graduated from New Buffalo High School in 1948 and enlisted in the US Navy serving on the USS Wallace L Lind and the USS Haynsworth in the Korean Conflict. After his discharge he returned to the nursery in New Buffalo. On May 29, 1954 Joe married Joan Vivian Parr in La Porte, Indiana. Together they had two children, Daniel Stromer (Jeanne Pavlic) and Laurel Stromer (Michael George). They have one grandson, Evan Stromer. In 1959, Joe graduated from Valparaiso Technical School and worked as an electronic technician for 22 years at Cook’s TV in New Buffalo. After his retirement, he worked for several years for Glenhaven Management of Michigan City keeping several McDonald’s Restaurants well-landscaped and winning the Terra Firma award for the best landscaped store in La Porte. Joe loved working in his attractive yard in Union Pier, growing may varieties of roses, hostas, and daylilies. Always a Chrysler fan, Joe liked watching NASCAR and took his children to local racetracks over the years. He and Joan took several trips with the Sarett Nature Center in their retirement years, including going to Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and the Smoky Mountains. He spent many years rooting for the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings. He attended the New Buffalo United Methodist Church for over 70 years, and then attended the Scottdate United Methodist Church after moving to St. Joseph in 2006.