Louisa Strock

Hannah Louisa M. Strock, 98, passed away Saturday, April 26th just hours after a brief ceremony by Northwest State officials naming her Coordinator Emeritus of the Center for Lifelong Learning at the College. She was born in Liberty Center, Ohio on February 14, 1916, the daughter of John and Emma (Crozier) Mires. In 1934 she married Frederick Bonner and in 1944 she married Cecil Strock. Both preceded her in death. Louisa graduated as valedictorian of her 1933 class from Liberty Center High school, was a 1937 graduate of Ohio State University and in 1968, after raising her six children, earned her master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. She was a lifelong educator teaching primarily in the Liberty Center Public Schools and at Northwest State Community College. Whether she was teaching French, vocal music, composition or serving as drama coach, she gave her best and expected nothing less in return. An accomplished pianist, she taught hundreds of students to play the piano. She was still filling the leadership role in the Center for Lifelong Learning at the College, a program she helped initiate 25 years ago. She was an active member and past president of Delta Kappa Gamma, an International honorary society for woman educators, and she was still active in the Henry County Arts Council and the Henry County Retired Teachers Association. In Liberty Center, she served on many citizen committees and was loyal to her community’s book club. In the last decade, she spent much of her time at her computer, editing others’ memoirs, newsletters, and program copy. For more than 30 years, she was active in the harness racing industry with her husband Cecil. She was a member of the Liberty Center United Methodist Church where she had been the organist and Sunday school teacher, frequently attended Malinta Memorial Methodist Church where she accompanied the choir, was a member of the former Liberty Center Union Rebekah Lodge, and was an avid supporter of many sports programs including the Liberty Center Tigers, the Ohio State Buckeyes and all things Detroit: Tigers, Lions, Pistons and Red Wings. Surviving are her children - daughter- in-law Suzanne Bonner, Liberty Center; David (Charlene) Strock, Defiance; Cecily (Jerry) Rohrs, Archbold; John (Patty) Strock, Liberty Center; and Charlotte (Dudley) Shrider, Napoleon - and 14 grandchildren, 32 great- grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Two sons, Leon Bonner and “Jamie”, preceded her in death, as did brothers J. “King” and David W. Mires. A gathering to honor her life will be held at the Voinovich Auditorium inside the west entrance at Northwest State Community College from 1:30 to 8:00 on Saturday, May 3. A casual reception-style format is planned, with two scheduled breaks: the short Delta Kappa Gamma service at 1:30 and a memorial service at 3:30. A family committal service will be scheduled later in the Young Cemetery, Liberty Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the already-established Louisa M. Strock Scholarship fund at Bowling Green State University, the Liberty Center Library, or the Liberty Center Education Foundation. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Rodenberger Funeral Home, Napoleon.

Tributes

Louisa Strock

February 14, 1916 - April 26, 2014