Emil E. Strosser, III, 87

Emil E. Strosser, III, 87, a lifelong resident of Lancaster City, went home to be with our Lord on December 26, 2008.   He died at home after a brief illness surrounded by his family.   He is survived by his loving wife Ginny, whom he married on June 20, 1953, and is also survived by 9 children, 21 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

He was the son of the late Emil E. and Therese (Krallinger) Strosser, Jr., and is preceded in death by siblings Paul and Evelyn Strosser.   Surviving are brothers Richard (Philadelphia area) and Norman Strosser of Lancaster.

At age 16, he led the 8^th Ward League with 5 homeruns that year!  From 1940 to 1942 he played at St. Joseph Catholic Club in Lancaster.  At age 19, he then managed St. Joe Catholic Club from 1941 to 1942.

Then he served active duty in the U.S. Army from 1942-1946. A Veteran of WW II, he served as Corporal in the U.S. Army with the 37 70^th Trucking Company in the South Pacific campaign.  He received 2 Bronze medals.

After returning from the war, he then managed St. Joseph’s Legion Team from 1946 to 1952.

In 1948, he coached a team “The Catholic War Vets” who went on to win the first league championship in fast pitch.  In 1949, the St. Joe Legion baseball team won the City championship.  He played for St. Joe Catholic Club softball team in 1948 – 1951.  He played with the Beer Barons, the Police team and Graybill’s team.  He was in the Red Rose League until 1969.  He was also on the Millersville Church slow pitch league. In 1988, he started the Cabbage Hill Seniors Old Timers team and eventually played on the Willow Street and Manheim Old Timers teams.  He coached the girl’s team and co-ed team in the Rec league.  This fall he was awarded the “Coach of the Century” honor by the Millersville Slow Pitch Church League where he coached them for 26 years..

He ended up managing the St. Joe’s team, which was then changed to Dantros, for 26 years and he retired in 2008.

He took over his father’s milk business and was the owner of Rocky Springs Dairy for 30 years.  He was always happy, positive and whistled while he worked.  He loved to play the harmonica, sing, and dance.  He was a member of the Liederkranz German Club and sang with the Hobby Chor.  He loved to tend to his garden, ride his 1937 Schwinn bicycle around the neighborhood, and loved the outdoors!

He was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where he was an usher for many years.    He was an alumnus of Lancaster Catholic High School, a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 867, and the St. Joe Club. He was a devout follower of Christ and prayed often.

Emil loved to attend the football and basketball games at Lancaster Catholic High School.  He loved to listen to polka music and go out dancing with his wife any chance he could get.  He was always outside, had a constant tan, enjoyed his garden to the fullest, and could not stop playing softball he loved it so much!

We will miss seeing him and all his habits that he had that made us kids find comfort when we returned home to visit.  We love you Dad and you will be missed…..

He is survived by :Veronica, wife of Doug Meyers; Glen Burnie, MD; Fran, wife of Ray Sherman, Virginia Beach, VA; Teri, wife of Chris Ramsay, North Conventry, PA; Ed, husband of Bonnie, Wysox, PA; Lisa (Strosser) Hilbert of Lancaster; Bernard, husband of Charlotte, Lancaster; Tim, husband of Judy,Lititz, PA; Patricia, wife of Ed Garner, Jr., Willow Street, PA, and Virginia, wife of Paul Townend, Wilmington, NC.

Grandchildren are:Angie and Laura Sherman; Sheila West; Bridget, Liza and Ben Strosser; Andrew and Alex Hilbert and Adam Strosser-Schwebel; Brandon and Britney Strosser; Arielle, Savannah, Alivia, and Vince Strosser; Matthew, Michael and Andrea Garner; Arthur, Theo, and Jane Townend.

Great grandchildren are:Marissa West and Olympia Lymberis; Jack and Nathaniel Parkerson.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 11 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 440 St. Joseph St., Lancaster, PA with Rev. Msgr. Thomas Smith as Celebrant.  Interment will be in St. Joseph New Catholic Cemetery.  A viewing will be held at Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home and Chapel Inc., 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA Monday evening from 6 until 8 PM. The rosary will be recited at 7:45 PM at the funeral home. A second viewing will be held at the church Tuesday from 9:30 until 10:45 AM.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Emil’s memory to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604, or to St. Joseph Catholic Church. For more information, or to send an online condolence, please visit www.snyderfuneralhome.com