Raymond G. Stroh

Raymond G. Stroh, 85, a retired electrical and consulting engineer died September 10, 2012, in Tracy, Calif.

Mr. Stroh, a native of Tower City, North Dakota, grew up in a farm family of eleven children. He received his higher education at the North Dakota School of Science in Wahpeton, N.D. This is where, in 1946, he met the love of his life, Katherine Neubauer. They were later married in 1948. His life and education were interrupted by his service in the United States Navy during World War II from January 1945 to July 1946.

He commenced his career with the United States Bureau of Reclamation Design Office in Casper, Wyoming in 1948. He served at many US Bureau of Reclamation facilities throughout the west including four in Wyoming, one in Montana, three in California and completing that career as Chief of Operations at the Grand Coulee Hydroelectric Power Project Complex in the State of Washington retiring in 1984. He then provided special consulting instruction training for the Samoa Power Authority in the Islands of Samoa after which he moved to Sonora, Calif., and entered employment with the Friant Power Authority in Friant, Calif., in a consulting capacity until 1998.

Mr. Stroh was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, BPO Elks and a life honorary member of the Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his wife, Katherine Neubauer Stroh, of 64 years; four daughters: Mary Avila (David) of Berkeley, Calif., Darlene Avila (Steve) and Christina Hein (Terry) both of Tracy, Calif., and Susan Collins (Steve) of Lusk, Wyo. Two sons: Harold (Carla) of Lusk, Wyo., Richard (Allison) of Madera, Calif., and preceded in death by his son, Lee. Eleven grandchildren, Harley Stroh (Heather) of Carbondale, Colo., and Will Stroh of Holly Springs, N.C., Sarah Avila-Ward (Jeremy) and Steven Avila (Dawn) of Tracy, Calif., Garrett Avila of Sacramento, Calif., Kristin Butcher of San Francisco, Calif., and David Hein of Tracy.

Samantha Stolz (Justin) of Lodi, Calif., Keith Collins of Lusk, Wyo., Leesha Stroh Casagrande of San Diego, Calif., and Morgan Stroh of Madera, CA; three siblings and three great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10am Saturday, September 15th at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sonora, Calif. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions in Mr. Stroh’s name be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.