Wilma Marie Strait

Wilma Marie Strait, 101, formerly of Sioux City, passed away on April 2, 2017, in Lenexa, Kan., surrounded by her family. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, at Faith United Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave., in Sioux City. Private family graveside services will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. The family requests donations in Wilma's memory be made to the church or the Siouxland Humane Society. Wilma was born on Oct. 22, 1915, in Delaware County, Iowa, the daughter of William C. Barnts and Rose Wenger Barnts. She lived in Iowa most of her life, graduating from Alburnett High School in 1933. She married William "Wayne" Strait on June 20, 1936 and the couple lived in Cedar Rapids, Decorah, Waverly, and Mason City, before settling in Sioux City in 1955. They were married 62 years before Wayne's death in 1998. In 2011, she moved to the Kansas City area to be closer to her daughters. Wilma was a former Welcome Wagon hostess in Sioux City and was a member of Faith United Presbyterian Church, formerly Morningside Presbyterian Church for 62 years. Wilma was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was especially grateful to her family for their love and support and for the many friends who faithfully sent her cards and well-wishes. Her love for animals was well known, and she doted on the cats that she shared her life with throughout the years. She is survived by her children, David Strait of Louisville, Ky., Barbara George (Mike) of Olathe, Kan., and Debbie Baker (Rob) of Overland Park, Kan.; granddaughters, Lesley Gehrt (Gavin), and Megan George; grandson, Cameron Baker; and great-grandson, Zachary Gehrt.