Cynthia Strahan

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Real Life Church, 2302 SW 3rd St, Ankeny, IA 50023. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Ankeny Funeral Home, 1510 West First Street, Ankeny, Iowa, 50023. Burial will be in Ankeny Memorial Gardens following the service on Wednesday.

Cindy received Christ at an early age and trusted Him alone for forgiveness of her sins and the hope of Eternal Life. She was zealously devoted to the interests of Christ in her life and in the lives of everyone around her. Someone asked her once what can I do to encourage you? She said, “Start obeying God and start being faithful to church!” She was on her way to the Heavenly City and she wanted to take everyone else with her.

She taught, she exhorted, she shared quotes, and she loved people deeply, and cared about their souls. She led a woman’s Bible study for decades. She stood rock solid by her husband Reid through the joy and struggles of pastoring a church.

She loved the Bible, listening to sermons, and great quotes about living for God. She loved the gifts of the Spirit and exercised a remarkable spiritual gift of praying in the Spirit, interpreting, and speaking powerful, encouraging messages to those she prayed for.

Cindy had a previous battle with cancer in 1983-84 discovered during her pregnancy with our third child, Luke. Abortion was recommended by her doctor but she chose to keep her baby and take on any additional risks to her life in so doing. Luke was born safely and without predicted deformity from her chemotherapy. After 6 months of chemotherapy in the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, her cancer had spread through her body and they could do no more for her. She was on pain medications and given 2 weeks to live. The Lord promised her healing in a vision and shortly thereafter Dr. Cross and Dr. Shreck from Iowa Methodist knocked at the door of her home and asked her to try one more round of a different chemotherapy. She went to the hospital that day, had an emergency colostomy, and Dr. Shreck began the new treatment. Her cancer quickly disappeared, and within a few months she was cancer free, her colostomy was reversed and she went on to live nearly 40 years full of life.

Cindy delighted in being a grandmother! Every Thursday for years her home was filled with her grandchildren, laughing, playing, reading, cooking, and doing crafts. Although the work and cleanup was substantial, it was the highlight of her week!

Cindy helped start Strahan Construction with her husband Reid in the late 1980’s. She was a gifted salesperson and home designer. She knew how to create an awesome floor plan, front elevation, and how to decorate a home. Due to her ability to design home fronts with street appeal, the early sales slogan, “Who Built That?” worked for the company.

To me, (Reid) Cindy was a faithful loving wife of 47 years. She was my best friend, lover, and fellow soldier in the battles of life. She stood behind me, encouraged me, loved me, and made life fun, through it all. We had a date day every Tuesday, and enjoyed lunch together at the Cafe in Ames for years. We had pizza every Friday night and watched a TCM movie. Pastries and coffee on Saturday morning finished up the week. I have many friends but I always enjoyed being with her most of all.

She knew how to fight the good fight of faith, and how to press on when life got painful. Obedience to God, doing the right thing no matter the cost (and regardless of her feelings), was her way of life. And it served her well. She knew the kind of dying to self for Jesus sake that leads to a flourishing soul and an abundant life.

Cynthia (Cindy) Lorraine Ellgren was born March 18, 1954 in Minneapolis, MN. The family moved to Humboldt Iowa where Cindy was raised with two brothers, Scott and Todd. She graduated from Iowa State University in 1976. Reid Strahan asked her to marry him on their first date and she said “Oh Reid, I’ve always loved you! Yes!” Reid and Cindy were married June 12, 1976. They had 3 children, Justin, Alissa, and Luke. Cindy stayed home with them, loved them, and home-schooled them.

Cindy is survived by her husband, Reid. Her brother, Todd Ellgren and his wife, Amy. Her son, Justin and his wife, Melissa, and grandchildren, William, Weston, Sam, Everett, Lucy, Harrison, Ocean and Jack. Her daughter, Alissa DeGroote and her husband, Josh, and grandchildren, Sabrina Thompson and her husband, Grant, and other grandchildren, Olivia, Isabella, Eden, Silas and Grayson. Her son, Luke and his wife, Elizabeth, and grandchildren Cedric, Christian, Peter, Gwendolyn, and Johnny. Her sister in law, Brenda Ellgren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Lorraine Ellgren, and by her brother Scott.

Memorials may be directed to Real Life Church, 2302 SW 3rd St, Ankeny, IA 50023, in loving memory of Cindy.

Fond memories or expressions of sympathy may be left at www.ankenyfuneralhome.com for the Strahan Family.