In Memory of Hugo Strike, Sr.

Hugo Strike, Sr., age 95, of Isanti died November 17, 2011 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, November 21st at Elim Baptist Church in Isantiwith Rev. Ryan O’Leary officiating. A visitation will be held from 3:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 20th at Strike Funeral Home – Isanti Chapel and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in Strike Cemetery in rural Isanti.

Hugo Gilbert Strike, Sr. was born January 31, 1916 in Bradford Township, rural Isanti, to Walter and Olga (Boelter) Strike. He attended country school about half-a-mile from his home. He worked in the CCC Camps and helped develop Gooseberry State Park and other sites. Hugo married Eva Pearson on June 15, 1940 at the Elim parsonage in Isanti. Hugo worked on a farm at Henderson and that was where their first son was born. Hugo then served in the Merchant Marines during World War II on supply ships and supplied the military in Europe and northern Africa. After the war he moved back to Isanti and built a home on his family farmstead. Hugo was employed as a heavy equipment operator for Carl H. Peterson Company in the Twin Cities and finished his career with Markum Construction. He was a proud long time member of Local Union #49. He also hobby farmed and after retirement he rented several more acres in Bradford Township. They enjoyed wintering for 25 years in Edinburg, Texas. Hugo was also a very good mechanic and could fix most anything. He enjoyed restoring old tractors and engines and always said he was restoring them for his own auction, which he had a few years ago. Hugo had a deep faith and was an active member of Elim Baptist Church in Isanti. In earlier years he taught Sunday school, was a deacon and was building committee chairman when they built the new sanctuary, now the fellowship hall, in 1962. Hugo deeply loved his wife, Eva, of over 70 years and his family and grandchildren. He will be missed by many.

Besides his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Woodrow and Ralph and by one sister, Marcella Svendsen. Hugo is survived by his wife, Eva of GracePointe Crossing Gables West; two sons, Hugo, Jr. (Elaine) of Isanti, Harlow (Ce) of Sun City West, Arizona; four grandchildren, Lori (Randy) Eggiman, Brian Strike, Cory (Dominika) Strike, Joel (Julie) Strike; ten great-grandchildren, Erica, Brett, Aaron, Evan, Brian, Jr., Madelyn, Jonathan, Chloe, Aden and Sophia; one great- great-granddaughter, Autumn; and by many other relatives and friends.