Reverend William Warner “Bill” Stratman
CODY, WY — Funeral services for Reverend William Warner “Bill”
Stratman, 64, will be held at 10a.m. on, Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at
Our Savior Lutheran Church in Torrington, Wyoming with Reverend Dr. Ron
Garwood, Reverend Tim Schnare, and Reverend Scott Firminhac officiating.
Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Bill died, after a
courageous battle with cancer, on January 21, 2016 in the Special Touch
at Torrington Community Hospital with his family by his side.Visitation hours will be held at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, January 25 from 3pm to 5pm. The casket will be closed at the church. The family would appreciate memorials directed to either Our Savior Lutheran Church in Torrington, Wyoming or Christ the King Lutheran Church in Cody, Wyoming. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends are invited to send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com
Bill was born on March 6, 1951 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska the son of W.W. “Buck” and Velma (Williams) Stratman. Bill grew up and received his education at Lingle, Wyoming; graduating Lingle High School in 1969.
Bill then worked as a farm hand and implement mechanic in the Goshen County area. He married Kathy Lacy Prucha on July 19, 1972 in Lingle, Wyoming and the couple had three children. The family moved to Cody, Wyoming where Bill fulfilled his ranch dream and worked as ranch foreman on the South Fork at the Flying H. In January 1986 his wife, Kathy, was tragically killed. Bill worked to get his life up-right again and in July of 1988 he married Joan Evans and to this union a son was born. It was at this time that Bill found his calling in the religious life and entered the Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana where he graduated on May 30, 2000 and was ordained on June 25, 2000 at St. John’s in Rushmore, Minnesota. He then served as Pastor in various Lutheran Churches including Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming.
Bill never lost his love for ranching and over-the-road long haul semi trucking to Alaska; but in September 2014 he was diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) and life took on yet another meaning and new journey.
Bill loved the mountains, fishing, and hunting. He was a Big Game hunting guide in the Big Horn Mountains and he enjoyed camping trips with his family. Throughout his life, Bill continued to love ranching and pastoring. He especially loved his little dog, Phoebe, who was always by his side.
Bill is survived by his wife, Joan of Cody; his 2 sons, Terry (Stacy) Stratman of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; and Samuel Stratman of OFFUTT , AFB, Omaha, Nebraska; his 2 daughters, Rebecca (Mark)Ellis of Miles City, MT and Darcie (Cody) Rosenthal of Ord, Nebraska; 4 grandsons, Hayden and Avery Stratman and Cord and Cleve Ellis; 3 granddaughters, Faith Kelly Ellis and Katie and Gracie Mae Rosenthal; his mother, Velma Stratman of Torrington; 2 sisters, Connie (Dick) Ziller of Iowa and Charm (John) Friedlan of Torrington; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father, his first wife, Kathy, and a son-in-law, Tuck Seeley.
