John Strain

John Strain, 68, of Le Grand, Iowa, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, May 29, 2011, at the Iowa River Hospice House in Marshalltown, surrounded by his loving family.Mass of Christian Burial for John will take place at 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 3, at St. Patricks Catholic Church in Tama, Iowa. Interment will follow services at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Le Grand. Visitation for John will take place from 4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 2, at St. Patricks Catholic Church where his family will be present to greet friends. Memorial contributions may be directed in his name to his family. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for John and his family. For further information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234. John was born June 15, 1942, the son of Randall Ward Strain and Sarah McDonald. He was raised and educated in Webster City, Iowa, attending the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and went on to graduate from the Webster City Public High School, the Webster City Junior College and then the University of Northern Iowa. John was united in marriage to his high school sweet-heart Mary Mikel on August 22, 1964, in Webster City, Iowa. His first coaching role was in Tipton, Iowa, where he served as the coach for the freshman/sophomore football teams, golf and was also the Physical Education teacher. From there John and Mary moved to Mid-Prairie Wellman High School where he served as head coach for the football and baseball teams and also taught Social Studies. John, Mary and their family settled in Le Grand in 1978, where served as the head football coach, athletic director and Physical Education teacher until the time of his retirement. John was inducted into the Iowa High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1992. He served on the Board of Directors for the Iowa High School Football Coaches Association, was an assistant Coach several times for the Iowa High School Shrine Football All-Star Game and was Head Coach for the Iowa High School Shrine Football All-Star Game in 1988. John loved all athletics, golfing, fishing, and playing fast pitch softball during his younger years. Following his retirement, John became an avid reader of both westerns and autobiographies of athletes. Above all John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to his family. His leadership as both a man and coach on and off the field has inspired and left a lasting legacy to all who had the privilege of calling him Coach. John is survived by his wife Mary, of Le Grand, his four daughters: Kris (Jim) Collins of Tama, Michelle (Dan) Stubbs of Green Mountain, Pauly (Darrell) Wood of New Jersey and Angie Strain of Green Mountain, his grandchildren: Nathan, Sarah, Noel, Tasha, Catherine, Kristina, Danielle, Lauren, Jonathon, Bailey and Kinlee, his great-grandchildren: Xander, Dane and Klein, his sister Bonnie (Bud) Furst of Boone. John was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings: Max, Mary, Eva Sue, Jean, Bob, Richard and two siblings in their infancy.