Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Strickland, Stanton "Stan" March 16, 2022 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net March 14, 2023, 10:02 am Hasting's Reminder - Saturday March 19, 2022 STANTON STRICKLAND Tom Brokaw coined the phrase"The Greatest Generation" to define the generation that came of age during World War II. We lost a great example of that generation, Stanton Strickland, on March 16, 2022, at the age of 98, just 32 days shy of his 99th birthday. Stanton was born on April 17, 1923, in Carlton twp., Barry County, Michigan to William J.Strickland and aMary Mildred (Lancaster) Strickland. IN January 1943 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and took part in the Normandy invasion that was the beginning of the end for the Nazi regime. Stan was a communications specialist and a courier who carried messages by memory, word for word. He also repaired telephone lines after dark and could not use any light. He had to work in the dark by touch, sometimes behind enemy lines. By the end of the war, Stan was promoted to 1st Sergeant. He wrote about his memories of those wartime experiences in a book entitled My World War II Experiences and Beyond (2012). The City of Grand rapids and the Gerald R.Ford Museum honored WW II Veterans on the 75th Anniversary of the war's end in 2020, and Stan was one of the honorees. After his military service, Stan came back to Michigan and married Mary Margaret Barry and had one son, Steven Strickland. He bought a tractor with money he had saved up from his time in the military and did custom work for local farmers. In time Stan bought a farm west of Lake Odessa. After a divorce, Stan met and married Helen Mutschler Durkee in October 1958. Stan and Helen farmed his 300- acre farm, the Durkee's 200 acres, and Helen's 60 acres. They both could be seen on tractors out in the fields on a daly basis as well as running their dairy farm. Stan and Helen enjoyed square dancing, were members of the local Grange, and found time to travel and camp along the way. Helen preceded him in death on January 31, 2009, after suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Stan was her care giver during those trying times, and she was able to spend most of her later years at home. Stan was honored at a ceremony in 2012 in Lake Odessa where he was awarded medals earned in WW II, but had never received, including the Bronze Star for heroic and meritorious action. The same day he was also the honorary master of ceremonies for the Memorial day Parade. Stan will be dearly missed by stepdaughter, Carolyn (Durkee-Bailey) Mayhew; daughter-in-law, Pam Strickland; in-laws, Wayne Jackson and Marian Durkee; grandchildren, Amanda (Jerad) Crump, Derek (Audrey) Strickland, Joel (Crystal) Strickland; step-grandchildren, Terry (Bailey) Holly, Kevin (Amaya) Durkee, Kyle(Heather) Durkee, Jan (Joey) Jackson, Kenneth Jackson and Barbra (Jackson) Clement; and many great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Helen Mutschler-Durkee; son, Steven Strickland; siblings, Lawrence Strickland, Rex Strickland, and Marcia (Strickland) Steeby; step-daughter Lois (Durkee) Jackson and stepson, Robert Durkee; and son-in-law, Robert Mayhew. Funeral services are planned for Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at 2 p.m. at Koops Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be one our prior to service. Burial will take place at Lakeside Cemetery immediately following. Donations to VFW post 4461 inLake Odessa in Stan's memory are welcomed. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.koopsfc.com for the Strickland family. Additional Comments: Lakeside Cem. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/s/strickla45252nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb