Carl I. Strause

Carl I. Strause, 80, of Alsace Twp, passed away on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at Reading Hospital & Medical Center, West Reading, PA.

Born November 29, 1935 in Bern Twp, he was the son of the late Paul F. and Stella M. (Kauffman) Strause. Carl was married for 53 years to "His Pretty", Irene (Del Santo) Strause, whom he married in Chiuppano, Italy on October 20, 1962.

Carl owned and operated Strause Electric retiring in 2006 after 25 years in business. Following his retirement, he also drove school bus for 6 years in the Oley Valley School District for Quigley Bus Company. Prior to his own business, Carl had worked for 13 years for General Battery, holding positions as a driver and then traffic manager.

Carl served as an Elder of the Reading North Congregation of the Jehovah's Witnesses. He truly enjoyed making people happy and was great at making people laugh. He enjoyed spending time going door to door to visit with people and also enjoyed gardening, singing, traveling and cooking. He was a 1953 graduate of Reading High School.

Carl served his country honorably as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He served 10 years between 1954 and 1964 spending many years overseas.

In addition to his wife, Irene, Carl is survived by his two children, Paul J. Strause, husband of Kathy Strause, Bern Twp and Lisa I. (Strause) Martin, fiancAC.e of Tony Gajewski, Alsace Twp.. He is also survived by his grandsons, Troy Colvin, Leesport and Benjamin and Daniel Martin, Alsace Twp; his great grandchildren, Valarie and Nathan and his sister, Doris Yenser, Bern Twp.

Along with his parents, Carl was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Amy Rizzardi, his sister Emma Kramer and his brother, Charles Strause.

Memorial Services for Carl will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 7:00 pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Reading North Congregation, 509 Madison Ave, Reading, PA. A visitation will be held Saturday, October 22, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Kingdom Hall.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Carl's memory to the American Cancer Society

P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or to the Reading North Congregation of Jehovah's Witnessess, 509 Madison Ave, Reading, PA 19605.

Walbert Funeral Home & Cremation Services, PC, is honored to be caring for Carl and his family.