Thomas Archie Strey
May 31, 1946 - September 7, 2016

Thomas Strey, 70, of Waco, passed away on September 7, 2016 at his home surrounded by his loved ones after a courageous battle with cancer. There will be a Memorial Service at a later date in Northern Wisconsin.
Thomas Strey, a Freemason, was born in Greenwood, Wisconsin, May 31, 1946, the son of Arthur and Evelyn Strey, local dairy farmers. Tom loved the north woods community and had a passion for nature and loved to be outdoors whenever possible. Tom and his wife Kay loved hunting, camping, boating, and visiting the local golf courses. He received his education in the district schools of Loyal and Granton, and learned his trade by working his way up the ladder with dedication and "old school" hard work with the local industries in his native state. Later he was enrolled in further education through the University system of Wisconsin.

Tom and his wife Kay were beyond thrilled when they made their move to the beautiful state of Texas in 1992 when he was hired by Clayton Homes to be the Production Manager for their proposed new plant. He built a state-o-the-art double-wide plant, and hired and trained the employees to build a high end product that brought pride to the Waco Community.

Tom was dedicated to over 35 years in the Manufactured Housing Industry before his career ended suddenly in 2000 as a result of suffering a series of three mild heart attacks and two mild strokes. He was representing Patriot Homes at that time as the Southwestern Divisional Service Director over 11 states.

Tom rode as an honor guard with a local group of Freedom Riders every time an escort was needed for one of our fallen heroes; to ensure that the family was respected and undisturbed without issue during their funeral, procession, and graveside services.

Tom volunteered with Community Outreach Programs, was a member of the Waco Optimist Club, served as a board member of the American Heart Association, participated with charity fund raisers, supported the local Humane Shelters, and held memberships with Kiwanis and Wisconsin business association before moving to Texas. The past six years has been dedicated in the service as a guardian/caregiver for his brother-in-law, who is afflicted with Parkinson's Disease and Frontal Lobe Lewy Body Dementia.

Tom was an incredible husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, friend, and colleague to many that was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He takes loving pride in his home, his family and has met with a good degree of success in his life in spite of a horrendous car accident in 1970, that left him alive, but sustaining spinal cord injury and permanent nerve damage for the rest of his life.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, a step-son, and great-granddaughter,
Survivors: Tom was blessed with 32 years of marriage with his beloved wife Kay, and children they shared together: Lorri (Manuel "Doc"), Tom Jr "TJ" {Susie), John, and Deb, three grand children and four great-grandchildren, five brothers and one sister.

This wonderful man will live in our hearts for as long as we live.

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