Robert Stranik

Bob Stranik, 89, Dickinson, died Monday, November 7, 2005, at St. Joseph?s Hospital and Health Center, Dickinson. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a. m. , Saturday, November 12, 2005, at St. Patrick?s Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Austin Vetter celebrating. Interment will be in St. Patrick?s Cemetery, Dickinson. Visitation will be 9 a. m. to 9 p. m. , Friday, November 11, 2005 at Price-Murphy Funeral Home, Dickinson. There with a prayer service and sharing of memories at 8 p. m. , Friday, led by Fr. Austin Vetter. Robert Stranik was born on a farm near Hew Hradec on January 1, 1916 and lived in ND his entire life. He graduated from Model High in Dickinson in 1935 and attended Dickinson State Teachers College for two years. He also graduated from the School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in 1969. He married Alice Holt at St. Patrick?s Catholic Church on September 2, 1940. Robert had a great spirit of entrepreneurship, demonstrated in managing or owning several Dickinson businesses: City Grocery 1937 ? 43, Farmers Union Oil Company (South Heart) 1944 ? 47, Dickinson Beverage Company 1947 ? 65, First National Bank and Trust Company 1965 ? 78. He also was a financial advisor to several Dickinson businesses. He believed in investing in people?s potential and character and never lost a dollar of a personal loan he made. He noted frequently that the best investment he ever made was in his brother Richard with whom he owned a Midas Muffler business in Minnesota. Robert made a great contribution to the civic life of Dickinson. He was mayor from 1956 ? 60, a member and leader of many organizations, the Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, Elks Lodge, Knights of Columbus, Eagles and Rotary. He was also very instrumental in bringing water diversion to western ND. He was actively involved in St. Patrick?s Catholic Church, where he served for 22 years as a Trustee and on the Parish Council. He believed strongly in the power of education and made many personal loans to students that changed the course of their lives. He supported and was financially generous to institutions that he had a connection to, especially Home on the Range, Dickinson State University, Trinity High School and Mary College in Bismarck. He also devoted time by being the President of the DSU Foundation and Alumni Association and on the Board of Regents at Mary College. His belief in education for all crossed the US border into Mexico where he was a long time supporter of the education of Mexican orphans through Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (Our Little Brothers). Next to family, Dickinson and North Dakota, Bob loved golf. Because winter cut down on golf availability, Alice and Bob spent 25 winters in Palm Desert, CA. His motto was ?the more you give, the more you will receive? and he felt that his greatest reward for giving was the human relationships he cherished. In addition, Bob was recognized for his many efforts to improve the life of western ND by receiving numerous awards. He is survived by: his wife of 65 years, Alice (Holt) Stranik, Dickinson; his five children, Mary Kay (Mark Nammacher), St. Louis Park, MN, Don (Anita) Clayton, CA, Jerry (Suzie) Anchorage, AK, Marge (Ed Joehnk), Walnut Creek, CA, JoAnn (Dennis Hegel), Fargo, ND; ten grandchildren, three great-grandsons, and one brother, Richard (Jean) Stranik, Minnetonka, MN. Robert was a devoted husband and a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was preceded in death by: his parents, Joseph and Anna Stranik, brothers, Alfred and Aldrich Stranik, daughter, Roberta Ann and grandson, Christopher Joehnk. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: Dickinson State University Foundation, 230 8th Ave. W. , Dickinson, ND 58601 for scholarships or to Trinity High School Technology Department, 810 Empire Rd. , Dickinson, ND 58601.


Burial Date: November 12, 2005
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Mass: Saturday, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church