Ronald Lee “Ron” Strieby, 70, Syracuse, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, as the result of a bicycle involved automobile accident. He was born Sept. 11, 1948, in Warsaw, to Ronald Duane and Bonita Pauline (Richards) Strieby.

Ronald and Elizabeth (Heedick) Strieby met and graduated from the Ozark Bible Institute and were married on June 20, 1970. His world revolved around his five children: Ronald Nathan, Adam, Brian Lee, Judith (Raska) Strieby, Luke (Shilo) Strieby; and of course his two grandsons, Freddy and William and one on the way.

His siblings are Randy Strieby, Apollo Beach, Fla.; Pamela Hire, Mentone; Deborah Scharf, Warsaw; and Cynthia Shue (deceased).

As a teenager, Mr. Strieby trusted Jesus as Savior and was active in the CHURCH. Bible Baptist Church, Ligonier, was the last. He studied to be a pastor and sang in choir. He will be remembered as a good father, a generous man, and for his wish for a better future of unity and love among his family.

He loved gospel and folk music and had stacks and stacks of CD’s of his favorite music. Not only did he love music, he was good at creating it as well: singing and guitar were his specialties.

As a mountain man of old, a lifelong trapper, hunter and explorer, he was a man out of his time, as his father before. When he wasn’t traveling to hunt bear in Montana, he hiked around every lake and nature preserve in Kosciusko, as well as most counties in Northern Indiana. His knowledge of the land was surprising; he could tell stories of a place’s history in a way that made the past come alive.

A builder his entire life, he built houses, barns, and anything that involved his love of trees. His last summer was spent building a barn, which he created while showing that even at 69 he could outwork anyone. His work ethic continues to inspire those who saw it.

Ron Strieby would jump to help anyone that needed it, no matter what the circumstance, without ever being asked, and with no expectation of repayment. His favorite days were those in which he could tell his family about someone he’d helped out during day. A natural storyteller at heart, he was known to have a mischievous sense of humor.

He will be remembered as a good father, a generous man, and for his wish for a better future of unity and love among his family.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, at Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, in the funeral home. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery near North Webster.

To send condolences to the family in memory of Ronald Strieby, please visit www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com