Wilfred Henry "Bill" Strole

Wilfred Henry "Bill" Strole, 86, a lifetime Battle Creek resident died at Evergreen Senior Care after battling multiple medical challenges.

Bill was born February 9, 1935 in Battle Creek the eldest son of eleven children of Henry Albert and Mary Genevieve (Gardner) Strole, Sr. He attended St. Philip Catholic Central and was a 1954 graduate of Battle Creek Central High School. He honorably served his country in the Air National Guard for 3 years. Bill's career in printing began at Gage Printing in downtown Battle Creek. He was employed for multiple printing companies, however most of his time as a lithographer was at Speaker-Hines and Thomas in Lansing, Michigan. Bill was a Union Representative and was president of GCIU in Detroit for 2 years. After his printing career, Bill worked in real estate for Stetler Vanderveer & Associates.

Bill was united in marriage to Sally Ann Teller on June 9, 1961 at Central Christian Church in Battle Creek. Surviving are his wife, Sally; son, John Strole of Battle Creek; daughter, Kathleen Mansfield of Lowell; two granddaughters, Katianna Mansfield of Kalamazoo, and Karissa Mansfield of Grand Rapids; sisters, Lydia (Larry) Vinkle of Venice, FL, Sally (David) Penkevich of Eaton Rapids, Jean (James) Parrish of Chester, VA; brothers, James Strole and Patrick Strole both of Battle Creek, Walter (Brenda) Strole of Shelton, CT, Henry "Hank" (Diann) Strole, II of Battle Creek; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and their families. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mary; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Lou and Ronald Blankenship; brothers, Daniel Strole, Richard Strole; and sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Strole.

Bill was always a devout and practicing Catholic at St. Philip Roman Catholic Church. As a student at St. Philip Bill was proud to serve as an altar boy. He enjoyed talking about most anything, but especially history or throw in a little politics to heat things up. Bill enjoyed golfing, going to car shows, singing and Frank Sinatra music. Bill and Sally celebrated their 50th Anniversary in Costa Rica. He and Sally co-owned a boat they kept on the Black River in South Haven with her twin sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Ozzie Noel. Later, he had another boat on Gull Lake. Bill will be remembered as outgoing, always willing to have a conversation, standing up for others to make things right, being a good listener and confidant, helping others and giving of his time, loving with all he had to give and having any reason to celebrate life. He was an outstanding example as a husband, son, brother, and friend.

Friends will be received 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, where Bill's life will be celebrated by Rev. James Richardson 1:00 p.m. Wednesday. Committal and interment will follow at Newton Cemetery.

The service will be live-streamed and may be viewed by visiting https://vimeo.com/581185854 or the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care Facebook Page. Personal messages for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.