Memorial services for Constance “Wilma” Spurgeon Strang, age 83, of Seward, NE, and long-time Chadron resident will be at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at the Grace Episcopal Church (450 Bordeaux St.) in Chadron with Dr. Russ Seger officiating.

 

Inurnment will follow at the Grace Episcopal Church Columbarium at the foot of the cross.

 

A memorial has been established for the Fort Robinson Post Playhouse. Donations may be made to the Wilma Strang Memorial Fund, PO Box 915, Chadron, NE 69337.

 

You can view Wilma’s book of memories and share condolences, photos, and stories online by visiting GehrigStittChapel.com or at www.VolzkeFuneralHome.com.

 

Wilma passed away in Seward, NE, on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. She was born on December 26, 1931 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

 

Wilma was a gifted beauty, who graduated from high school at 16, attended secretarial school and modeling school, and also earned her private pilot’s license.

She worked for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and a Canadian oil company, where she met and married James Jesse Strang.

They raised their family and enjoyed many residences in Canada, the Midwest, and finally in Chadron, NE, where they were Fixed Base Operators of the Chadron Municipal Airport for the City of Chadron and owned and operated Strang Air until 1984.

 Following their divorce, Wilma worked at Panhandle Mental Health as well as for the Dawes County Commissioners. Wilma became a U.S. citizen and continued to live in Chadron for 43 years until April 2015 when she moved to Seward, NE.

 

Wilma completed the Education For Ministry program and was involved with the Grace Episcopal Church in Chadron as Senior Warden as well as the Chadron RSVP program.

She was a devoted mum and grandmother (Amah) who took great pleasure and joy in her Nebraska and Arizona grandchildren. She took pride in her independence--living in her own home, still mowing the yard, and shoveling Nebraska snow.

Summers found her at each Post Playhouse production, some of them multiple times. While in the fall, she would be dancing anything from country line to the cha-cha or a favorite jitterbug.

Wilma had a very deep and abiding faith that helped her overcome challenges, including her latest obstacle of a terminal cancer diagnosis. She believed in the power of the Holy Spirit and lived the philosophy, “Through God all things are possible.”

 

Wilma leaves to mourn her passing, daughter Noelle Baker and husband Brett of Seward, NE, son Gordon Strang and wife Mary of Tucson, AZ, daughter Cindy Vincent and husband Robert of Missouri City, TX, daughter-in-law Annette Lindeman of Tucson, AZ,

Also precious grandchildren Grant James Strang and Gregory John Strang of Tucson, AZ, Delainy Celene Baker and Kiernan Crosby Baker of Seward, NE (to whom she was affectionately known as Amah), numerous close friends of all ages, and special kitty Ebony. 

 

Wilma was preceded by mother and father Constance Mary Bunce and Arthur Willmot Spurgeon of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, and her older half-brother Bob (Thelma) Tweedy of British Columbia.

 

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel and Cremation Service in Sidney and Volzke Funeral Home of Seward are in charge of arrangements for Constance Wilma Strang.