Mary Barbara Strunk

Mary Barbara Strunk, 89, of Princeton passed away Nov. 5, 2019, at Cabin Livin’ Senior Care, Hennepin, Illinois.

Cremation rites will be accorded and a visitation will be 9-11 a.m. Saturday in St. Louis Catholic Church, Princeton. A memorial Mass at 11 a.m. Saturday will follow the visitation at the church.

Burial will take place at Oakland Cemetery at a later date. Grant-Johnson Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

She was born July 15, 1930, in Spring Valley to Earl and Lillian (Gurnett) Oakson. Barb married Capt. William Howard Strunk on Feb. 27, 1954, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Tiskilwa. He preceded her in death April 30, 1959.

Barb graduated from Tiskilwa High School with the Class of 1948. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at St. Francis in Peoria.

She worked for the Red Cross, Perry Memorial Hospital and Prairie View Nursing Home. Lastly she worked for many years in downtown Princeton at Country Casuals for her dear friend Marge Johnson.

Barb had a special devotion to her faith, the rosary and the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was very involved at St. Louis Catholic Church, where she served on the parish council and was a member of the CCW. She was a board member of Greenfield for 30 years. Barb selflessly cared for her friends and family throughout her entire life. She was loved by many and will live on in the hearts of her children, grandchildren, extended family, and friends. She will be so missed but we are happy knowing that she has been reunited with her loved ones that have gone before her.

Surviving are three children, Rebecca (Tom Swan) Pace of Princeton, Lisa (Gregg) Gondolfi of Ottawa and Anthony William “Bill” Strunk of Tacoma, Wash.; five grandchildren, Whitney (Kent) Tyne of Lake Thunderbird (and sons Tyler Tyne of Dover, Del., and Dillon Tyne of Princeton); William “Billy” Pace of Denver, Colo., Joseph (Drake) Gondolfi of Chicago, Samuel (Emily) Gondolfi of Ottawa and Antonio “Tony” Gondolfi of Ottawa; one sister, Norma Jeanne Oakson of Kankakee; five sisters-in law, Yolanda Oakson, Pat Oakson, Diane Steinhagen, Patricia Landrum and Silvia Forward; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She also was preceded in death by three brothers, Joseph, Thomas, and Richard Oakson; and one son, Scott Strunk.

Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Greenfield Retirement Home, Princeton.

Online condolences may be sent to www.grant-johnsonfh.com.