Birth date: Jul 13, 1936 Death date: Dec 27, 2017
Homer Lee Stroike, 81, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Wednesday, December 27, 2017. After moving to Palm Coast, FL in 1995, he started to enjoy all of his favorite hobbies. He served as vice president and presi Read Obituary
What can the two of us say about Homer......he was loyal, dependable, caring, creative, and loving....not only to Donna, his children, family, friends and co-worker, but, mostly his faithfulness to God showed through his daily life.
It was our privilege to know and work with him musically while we were in MD. Our sons especially loved his training for Royal Rangers...they learned a lot from him.
Maranatha!!!!!
Hugh and Jean Mullen (Melvindale, MI)
Dear Donna & Family, we were so saddened to hear about Homer's death. I am sorry we were in MO with our son for Christmas. We started home on the 30th & were unable to attend his memorial service. We were hoping to see you both in a couple weeks. Our time together last year was so pleasant. We will always remember Homer's gardens. Just so beautiful & of course most of all Royal Rangers. I know he has many crowns for all the hours he spent for boys. May God give you & your family the strength You need in the coming days. If you need anything, please call us. You will be in our thoughts & prayers. Love, Larry and Pat Foltz
My brother-in-law, Homer, was always a big part of my life, bringing lots of laughter and joy to our household. His love for Donna never waivered and his children and grandchildren were the joy of his life. Even when he was so sick, he would suggest ways to help me as I struggled after Richard's death, just 4 years and 1 day before his own passing. It's hard to think of Donna without Homer, certainly after almost 54 years together. His energy and joy will be missed so much! Thinking of you in Heaven with Richard and my parents, Homer! Oh, the beauty you will be enjoying!
Homer was such a funny guy. The love that he and Donna have for one another is one in a million. Fly high with those that have passed before you. Tell my grandma, grandmother and daddy hi for me and give them a big hug. You will be greatly missed by all who knew you!!!
Uncle Homer was the life of any party and we always enjoyed our visits to Florida to see him and Aunt Donna. He will be missed. So grateful for Salvation and for Heaven. Looking forward to seeing you again Uncle Homer.
The following is submitted by John Ringleb in honor of Homer Stroike. This is long, but well worth the read, especially for any of you Royal Ranger leaders who knew Homer.
This morning I was saddened by my wife, Becki’s news that Homer Stroike had passed. I have to tell you that Homer was very influential in my life back in the time that I had my miracle Christmas, now over 40 years ago. I would like to share with you what I saw as Homer’s legacy to me.
In the early 70s I was attending First Assembly of God in Orlando, FL, when someone asked me to help in a new group called Buckaroos, the 7&8 year olds group in Royal Rangers. There were three reasons why I didn’t want to work in the group. One was that I had a camping phobia. I couldn’t sleep because I had a strong belief that snakes, scorpions, and the likes were going to come in my tent and get me. I became the person who would keep the fire going at night. I wasn’t going to sleep. Second, I had a very short temper and out of it I was very defensive, blowing up rather quickly. Finally, I had no use for kids. I was a singer. I had no children of my own at that time, and I couldn’t understand them. I stayed away. With that working against me, I stayed in Buckaroos one night, watched them run around, completely uncontrolled. They fit every reason why I never darkened the door again, and stayed away from church until someone called us back. I must admit that I was very spoiled.
Fast forward to 1973, when the Air Force transferred me to Washington, D.C. and my church search began, finding Trinity Assembly of God on Good Luck Road in Lanham, MD. I was back in my comfort zone, singing in the choir again. Homer sat next to me. One day, he told me that the pastor had asked him to start up a group in church called Royal Rangers and Homer would like me to work in the program. Instead of running away screaming, I told my friend I would. It wasn’t long before I found myself in front of those Buckaroos again! God had to be chuckling. I stayed with it, and it was that very first night that I knew beyond the shadow of doubt that God had been working in me.
We went on, using Vacation Bible School materials and having a fairly successful time with my group, but rumors began circulating that some kind of a campout was coming. I tried to ignore it, but the rumors became frequent, and a new word was attached to the campout: Pow Wow. Well, I found myself at Bull Run Park in Virginia with our outpost and discovered that we weren’t the only ones with Rangers. Unfortunately, night was coming and I knew what was next for me. I remembered my phobia and went outside, stared at the moon, and told God that if He wanted me here, I would get some sleep. I went inside my tent, sat on the cot and laid down. I woke up the next morning with the first and best sleep I had ever had! I later realized that I was a part of history - the first Potomac District Royal Ranger Pow Wow.
A few months passed and Homer had started talking about a campout for leaders called NTC, and in October or November, I found myself with Homer and three others in Sherburne, NY. The event itself is a long story in itself, but we came back as changed and charged up men, and our outpost began to be transformed. After that was LTC, FCF, several campouts and Pow Wows. We started the first Capitol Section Newsletter which became the first District Newsletter.
Time separated us, but we both grew in Royal Rangers, he in Maryland, I in Florida. Eventually I had 30 years in Rangers, became Sr. Commander and started our outpost at Victory Church in Lakeland, a section commander and eventually the District Training Coordinator here in the Pen. Florida District. His initial investment in me resulted in moving a self-serving, lethargic man into a person committed to serving others in the name of Christ. I can mark my walk into spiritual maturity with Homer’s challenge to restart in Rangers. He, with Donna’s love, support and faithfulness, stayed with me even when times were tough, and were still with me when I was firmly on the path God had for me to follow. Homer put me there.
The thing about Homer is that I am but one of those many stories. Homer’s impact is now being revealed to him in glory, and I believe my life is a small part of that revelation. When my turn comes, I believe I’ll find him camping under the trees of righteousness beside the river of life, along with those who lives were never the same after his God-annointed touch.
