Carl Strempke

Carl Cleo Strempke, 83, of Campbell County, VA, lost his fight to Parkinson’s disease and passed peacefully from this world on Jan. 28, 2022. Born in 1938 in Buchanan County, Iowa to the late Carl Rhinehart Strempke and Margaret Hultz Strempke, Carl was the 9th of 12 children. He grew up in and around the family farm; he enjoyed sports and family activities as a child. Upon completion of high school, he entered into military service in the U.S. Air Force. Carl was a hard worker and well liked. While serving in Turkey he earned the nickname “Smiley.” Upon completion of service, Carl pursued a degree in Electrical Engineering. While doing his pre-engineering courses in Sioux City, Iowa he met the lady he would later marry. Carl graduated from Iowa State University in May of 1967. He later married April Nourse in June of 1967 and they moved to Lynchburg for Carl’s employment at Babcock & Wilcox. Carl’s specialty was work with technical blueprints used for the electrical systems that power nuclear reactors used by power plants.

While they both worked daytime jobs, Carl designed and built their first home on Candler’s Mountain. They started a family and remained in the area until a job change moved them to Reading, PA. Carl worked for Gilbert/Commonwealth and later Parsons Power for 23 years. During his years in Reading he led the family to renovate one home and build another. Upon his retirement, Carl and April moved back to the home they first built in the country setting that he loved. Over the years, he enjoyed vegetable gardening and was an orchard hobbyist. He enjoyed a jonquil flower bed and bird watching. He liked to tramp the woods and enjoyed exploring nature. Those who came to know Carl were blessed by his quiet manner, knowledge, kind heart, and humor. His mind and hands were most often working on a project, indoors or out, that would in some way benefit his family. His grandchildren fondly remember special times with him and his root beer floats. His family has treasured his values of hard work, loyalty, integrity, and love of science and nature.

Carl is survived by his loving wife, of 54 years, April. A daughter, Heidi Tate (Tom) of Fayetteville, PA; a son Eric Strempke (Elke Ullmer-Strempke) of Oakland, CA; six grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and a great grandson. He has three surviving sister sisters and was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, and 3 sisters.

It was Carl’s wish that no fuss be made upon his death and that his cremains be spread at a spot of his choosing in the woods. The family plans to honor Carl with a celebration of life on Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 10:00 am at Living Word Baptist Church, Forest, VA. Those wishing to honor his memory may consider a donation to the National Wildlife Federation or the building fund at Living Word Baptist Church. Two other choices would be the Redwood Forest Foundation Inc. or Tiny Houses for Veterans project.

The family wishes to extend sincere thanks for the support and care that Carl and April received these past years. Friends, caregivers, and the church family have our sincere gratitude.