James R. ?Jim? Strabala

James R. ?Jim? Strabala, 82, of Richmond, died Monday, March 23, 2009, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a lingering illness.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 26, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Richmond with the Rev. Rich Adam officiating. Burial will be in Holy Trinity Cemetery in Richmond. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona where the family will be present from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established for Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Mr. Strabala was born June 21, 1926, in Richmond, the son of Wino and Villa (Schmitt) Strabala. He attended Holy Trinity Elementary and graduated from Kalona High School. He worked as a banker for 42 years at the Kalona Savings Bank. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Forester?s, and I Club, and was a longtime member of the Kalona Co-operative Telephone Company. He enjoyed traveling and was an avid Cubs fan.

Surviving are five siblings, Mary Connelly of Anamosa, Lois Armbruster of Riverside, Eileen Armbruster of Iowa City, Rita Dull and husband Leo of Talent, Ore., and Larry Strabala of Iowa City; one sister-in-law, Marge Strabala of Richmond; 29 nieces and nephews; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Maurice ?Moe? Strabala; and one infant sister, Lola Strabala.