He was born August 6, 1947, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Thomas “Cobe” and Lorraine Sulzinger Strack. He graduated from Grundy Center High School 1965 and received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa while laid off from John Deere. He served his country in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He was united in marriage to Dana Geiger in Marshalltown. She died in 1999. He was employed at John Deere in Waterloo from 1973 until retiring in 2001.

He is survived by his sister, Mary (David) Kabel, of Cedar Falls; three nephews, David, Will and Paul Kabel. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and brother, Charles Strack.

A memorial gathering is being planned for this summer. Memorials may be directed to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, the Cedar Bend Humane Society or the Tallgrass Prairie Center at UNI. Online condolences at www.richardsonfuneralservice.com.