John E. Strella (1945-2016)

John E. Strella, 70, passed away Feb. 8, 2016 at The Hospice House, Olathe, Kan. after a 27-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was born May 29, 1945 in Denver, Colo. to Victor John and Ruth Ann (Tindle) Strella. John graduated in 1963 from Ellsworth High School; Hutchinson Community Junior College in 1966; and earned a BS in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University in 1969. He met his future wife, Linda Weber in 1965 at a teen dance in Ellsworth and married June 8, 1968 at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Wilson, Kan. They had two children, Scott and Angela.
John taught 5th and 6th grades and junior high school science and social studies plus coached football, basketball, track and cross country in Bunker Hill, Geneseo, Bushton, Holyrood, Ellis and Lyons for 15 years and also taught CCD religion classes at St. Bernard’s in Ellsworth for 15 years. He was a registered baseball and softball umpire for 25 years.  
In 1983, John became owner of Strella’s Family Shoe Center in downtown Ellsworth. He enjoyed selling shoes and working with customers for 25 years until his retirement in 2008.
He was a member of the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church and K of C 3400, Ellsworth; Msg. Maher Assembly  4th Degree K of C, Salina; and past member of Ellsworth Kiwanis and Lions clubs.
He is survived by his wife, Linda, of 47 years; son, Scott (Lori) Olathe; a daughter, Angela (Dan) Tatro, Leesburg, Fla.; grandchildren, Ashley, Abby, and Ava Strella and Christopher, Alexis, and Tristan Tatro.
Visitation will be from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. A Vigil and Rosary Service will follow at 6:30 p.m. with family present.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Ellsworth, with burial following in Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, suggested memorials are to Ellsworth County Cancer Fund; St. Bernard’s Catholic Church; or KU Endowment at KU Cancer Center for pancreatic cancer research, c/o Parsons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 45, Ellsworth, Kan. 67439.
Condolences may be made at parsonsfh.com