Obituary for Tad Stricherz
Tad Stricherz, age 61, of Waverly, SD, passed away on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at his residence.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Monday, December 27, 2021 at the New Life Evangelical Free Church in Watertown. The family is invited to join in a family led rosary at 3:30 p.m.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at New Life Evangelical Free Church with Reverend Michael Wallenmeyer officiating.
Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Waverly, SD.
Casket bearers will be Craig Yerigan, Ken Meyer, Greg Brandsrud, Delton Tulowetzke, Jim Thyen and Tony Norton.
Thaddeus "Tad" James Stricherz, son of Darrell and Mary J. (Ries) Stricherz was born on December 24, 1959 in Watertown, SD. He grew up in Waverly where he attended school and graduated from Waverly High School in 1978. He married Karla Fish on July 27, 1985 in South Shore, SD and they had two children, Jake and Jordan. Tad lived in the communities of South Shore, Waverly, Chamberlain, Watertown, Pierre and Onida, SD. Tad worked as a grain elevator manager in his early years, and then was a truck driver for the last 16 years.
Tad's interests were watching sports, especially football, horse racing, and enjoyed driving country roads looking for deer. He had a great sense of humor and loved to tease people. Tad had a great knack for making every day activities so much fun around him. He would always make a point to let those close to him know how important they were to him and how proud he was.
Tad never had a lot of hobbies or possessions, but highly valued relationships and quality time with loved ones. Tad made a point of visiting Jake and Jordan to spend time with them, their families, and his grandchildren. He was always finding ways to be helpful to them. Tad spent his final months very intentionally with Jake, Jordan, and their families and taking trips with Kathy.
Tad enjoyed attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings most days of the week and had decades of successful sobriety. He made lifelong friends and influenced many individuals through AA meetings.
Grateful for having shared in his life are his special friend, Kathy Minatra of Waverly; his children, Jake (Allison) Willmar, MN and Jordan (Kelsi) and Tad's grandchildren, Callie, Jackson, and Trey of Huron; his mother, Mary J. Stricherz of Waverly; his siblings, Paulette (Scott) Schmeling of New Ulm, MN, Tom (Donna) Stricherz of Waverly, LeaAnn (Bob Benson) Manke of Mitchell, and Todd Stricherz of Bryan, TX; a sister-in-law, Lynelle Stricherz of Ignacio, CO; brother-in-law, Randy Guderian of Kranzburg; Kathy Minatra's daughter, Megan (Jake) Shama of Council Bluffs, IA; Karla's sons, Ferdinand Ramos of Madison, WI, and Vincent Ramos of Brookings, SD; and his nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father Darrell Stricherz, an infant son Matthew Stricherz, his brothers Tim, Trent and Terry Stricherz, his sister Darla Guderian, his grandparents, and step grandchildren Summer and Gabe Shama.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Monday, December 27, 2021 at the New Life Evangelical Free Church in Watertown. The family is invited to join in a family led rosary at 3:30 p.m.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at New Life Evangelical Free Church with Reverend Michael Wallenmeyer officiating.
Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Waverly, SD.
Casket bearers will be Craig Yerigan, Ken Meyer, Greg Brandsrud, Delton Tulowetzke, Jim Thyen and Tony Norton.
Thaddeus "Tad" James Stricherz, son of Darrell and Mary J. (Ries) Stricherz was born on December 24, 1959 in Watertown, SD. He grew up in Waverly where he attended school and graduated from Waverly High School in 1978. He married Karla Fish on July 27, 1985 in South Shore, SD and they had two children, Jake and Jordan. Tad lived in the communities of South Shore, Waverly, Chamberlain, Watertown, Pierre and Onida, SD. Tad worked as a grain elevator manager in his early years, and then was a truck driver for the last 16 years.
Tad's interests were watching sports, especially football, horse racing, and enjoyed driving country roads looking for deer. He had a great sense of humor and loved to tease people. Tad had a great knack for making every day activities so much fun around him. He would always make a point to let those close to him know how important they were to him and how proud he was.
Tad never had a lot of hobbies or possessions, but highly valued relationships and quality time with loved ones. Tad made a point of visiting Jake and Jordan to spend time with them, their families, and his grandchildren. He was always finding ways to be helpful to them. Tad spent his final months very intentionally with Jake, Jordan, and their families and taking trips with Kathy.
Tad enjoyed attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings most days of the week and had decades of successful sobriety. He made lifelong friends and influenced many individuals through AA meetings.
Grateful for having shared in his life are his special friend, Kathy Minatra of Waverly; his children, Jake (Allison) Willmar, MN and Jordan (Kelsi) and Tad's grandchildren, Callie, Jackson, and Trey of Huron; his mother, Mary J. Stricherz of Waverly; his siblings, Paulette (Scott) Schmeling of New Ulm, MN, Tom (Donna) Stricherz of Waverly, LeaAnn (Bob Benson) Manke of Mitchell, and Todd Stricherz of Bryan, TX; a sister-in-law, Lynelle Stricherz of Ignacio, CO; brother-in-law, Randy Guderian of Kranzburg; Kathy Minatra's daughter, Megan (Jake) Shama of Council Bluffs, IA; Karla's sons, Ferdinand Ramos of Madison, WI, and Vincent Ramos of Brookings, SD; and his nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father Darrell Stricherz, an infant son Matthew Stricherz, his brothers Tim, Trent and Terry Stricherz, his sister Darla Guderian, his grandparents, and step grandchildren Summer and Gabe Shama.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.