Janice Strasma

Janice Plager Strasma 1936-2018 Janice Plager Strasma, 82, of Kankakee, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2018. She was born June 30, 1936, the daughter of Carroll Robert and Martha Jannette (Janet) Plager in Austin, Minnesota. Janice attended Iowa State University and received her BA in Home Economics. She was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority and part of the Iowa State Homecoming Court, nicknamed the “Bomb Beauties”. After graduation, she worked for the National Livestock and Meat Board (1958-62) in Chicago traveling throughout the U.S. giving cooking school demonstrations. She then joined the Hotpoint Division of General Electric in Cicero, Illinois, as a Home Economist until 1965. She met Norman Edward Strasma in Chicago during this time and they married May 25, 1963, in Austin, Minnesota. After the birth of their daughter Karen (Strasma) Koenig, they moved to Kankakee in 1965. Always a reader, she opened her own book store, Books Plus, in 1971, before selling it in 1980 so she could travel the world with Norm…literally. They visited over 100 countries. She also loved to play tennis locally, and traveled with tennis friends to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. She was active in several community organizations including Junior League, School Board Member, Round Table Club, Quadrille, and others including Book Clubs and Bridge Groups. She was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church. She could also be found many times behind the scenes “catering” an event or two for a good cause, most recently at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bradley House in Kankakee. She was a good friend to many and always said everyone should just live by the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Surviving are her husband of 55 years, Norman Strasma, of Kankakee; daughter and son-in-law Karen and Mark Koenig, of New Albany, Ohio; three granddaughters Alison, Natalie and Madison Koenig; three sisters and brother-in-laws Jane and John Jones of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Sue and Doug Nelson of Falcon Heights, Minnesota; Sally Ponce and Jarek Obsadny of Quepos, Costa Rica; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jan and Jane Strasma of Maple Park, Illinois; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation is scheduled for Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Kankakee, on Friday, November 2, 4:00-7:00 pm. Funeral services are at Asbury United Methodist Church in Kankakee, Saturday, November 3, at 11:00 am, Pastor Scott Henley officiating. Lunch will be served in Parish Hall after the service. Memorials may be made to the Community Foundation, 701 S. Harrison, Kankakee, for benefit of either Friends of the Kankakee Library Fund or Wright In Kankakee Fund.

Janice Strasma

June 30, 1936 - October 24, 2018