Frederick "Fred" Strohbehn

Frederick W. “Fred” Strohbehn, 88, of Reinbeck, passed away with his family by his side on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at The Elms Assisted Living in Reinbeck, while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 15th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM with a Masonic Service beginning at 6:30 PM at the French-Hand Funeral Home in Reinbeck. The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 16th at 10:30 AM at the Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Reinbeck with Rev. Joel Love officiating. Burial will follow the funeral service at the Reinbeck Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family where they plan to donate to Cedar Valley Hospice at a later time. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.abelsfuneralhomes.com

Fred was born on September 14, 1929 in Worthington, Minnesota, to his parents John Carson & Dorothy (Montgomery) Strohbehn. The family later moved to Reinbeck, where he grew up and lived on the family farm three miles west of town. He attended school in Reinbeck and graduated from Reinbeck High School in 1947. He then went on to study agriculture at Iowa State University in Ames for three years. He started his farming career with his father in 1950. Fred and his father John specialized in buying cattle and pigs and marketing them at Iowa packing or slaughter plants, or the Chicago Stock Yards. They grew mostly corn, oats, pasture or hay and later, soybeans.

Fred Married Ruth Helen Nordskog on December 27, 1956. They spent their life on the Strohbehn farm where they raised their three sons. Both Fred and Ruth were active members of Congregational United Church of Christ. He was also active in the Farm Bureau and Iowa and National Cattlemen’s Association. Fred had a keen interest in local and family history. He helped build a new Grundy County Museum in Morrison in 1999 and published a history book in 2006 titled, “From the Tall Grass Prairie to Hugh Grain Fields.” Fred was also involved in the Self Help Mission in Waverly and today, there is a Fred Strohbehn Learning Center for Advancement of Agriculture, in Nicaragua, to meet the needs of the people.

In addition to his involvement in the church and agricultural organizations, Fred was a member of the Reinbeck Masonic Coin Lodge #394. What brought the greatest joy to Fred was his family. He enjoyed the many visits from his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, especially while he was a resident at The Elms in Reinbeck. His family will miss him dearly and through his many accomplishments, especially with his farming career, his legacy will live on and be passed on to the future Strohbehn generations.

Fred is survived by his sons Philip (Audrey Schmitz) Strohbehn of Webster City, IA and Karl (Connie) Strohbehn and Paul (Caryn) Strohbehn, both of Reinbeck; grandchildren Casey Wente of Colorado Springs, CO, Aaron (Silvia) McCoy of North Port, FL, Shannon (Jill) McCoy of Adel, IA, Brandy (Matt) Sealman of Reinbeck, Vasily Strohbehn of Reinbeck, Alyona Strohbehn of Cedar Falls, Dmitriy Strohbehn and Marina Strohbehn, both of Reinbeck and Nicholas (Melanie) Strohbehn, Wesley (Sadi) Strohbehn and Ryan Strohbehn, all of Reinbeck; great-grandchildren Eric Steffens, Emili, Courtney & Grace DeGroote, Cael, Connor and Emma McCoy and Paige, Lauren, Addison and Emerson Strohbehn; sister Margaret (Gerald) Ehrig of Reinbeck. He is preceded in death by his wife Ruth; sisters Lavon (Russell) Roberts and Myrna (Paul) Shaff.