| Jim Eric Strahm, age 39, son of Vernon and Beverly Frey Strahm, Leawood, KS, passed away Friday, May 12, 2000, at Manor Care Health Services, Overland Park. He was diagnosed with an advanced stage of cancer last November. Jim was co-owner since 1989 of Midwestern Musical Company, Mission, KS, with his close friend, Matt Kesler. He played guitar, sang and wrote music for several area bands, most recently with The Saddlemen. Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, May 15, at Leawood United Methodist Church, with Dr. Jerold W. Vogt, pastor, officiating. Visitation will follow the service. A graveside service will be held Tuesday, May 16, 2000, at 11:30 a.m. at the Bern Cemetery, Bern, KS. The Popkess Mortuary in Sabetha, KS, in charge of the arrangements.In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial contributions may be made to the Leawood United Methodist Church or Mayfield Town Instrument Donation Program Memorial and sent to the Popkess Mortuary, 823 Virginia St., Sabetha, KS, 66534. Jim was born August 27, 1960, in Humboldt, NE. He attended Thomas B. Chinn School in Platte County, MO, and schools in Sacremento, CA, Creve Coeur, MO, Billings, MT, and Derry, NH. He participated in sports, band and Boy Scouts. He was on several all star baseball teams and in 1976 was named a Babe Ruth Athlete of the Year in New Hampshire. He graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School, Prairie Village, KS, in 1979, and attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence. He was an avid fan of the Chiefs, Royals and Kansas University basketball. He was a member of Leawood United Methodist Church. Besides traveling coast to coast with his friends' bands, highlights of his life included attending the Kansas City Royals 1992 Dream Week in Florida; having bit parts in two movies, "Detour" and "A Matter of Justice"; and having Tiny Tim bring his ukelele to Midwestern Musical for Jim to repair two times. Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents, Harry and Martha Hanni Frey, Dubois, NE, and Aaron and Frieda Liechti Strahm of Bern, KS; uncles and aunts, Harlan and Neola Kroemer Frey of Dawson, NE, and Bill and Carol Frey Halden of Excelsior Springs, MO; and by his cousin, Bruce Duncan of Independence, MO. Surviving are his parents, and a brother, J.V. Strahm and his wife, Joni, of Broomfield, CO; and his sister, Jean and her husband, Boydd Piper, of Eau Claire, WI; nieces and nephews, Jessica, Jordan and Jacob Strahm and Nathan, Cara Jean and Tedd Piper; his aunt, Loree Strahm Duncan of Independence, MO; and by many relatives, a host of very good friends and "brothers". Jim's humor and generosity will be missed by all who knew him. He bravely suffered through his illness without complaint. |