Tommy Lacy Strunk was born on October 27, 1940 in Harlan County, Kentucky to Ava & Arthur Strunk. He passed away peacefully, at the age of 78, in hospice care at the Kobacker House in Columbus, OH, during the early morning hours on August 7, 2019.
The son of a coal miner/Baptist preacher, Tommy spent his childhood exploring the hills and wild beauty of Eastern Kentucky, but he learned to navigate an urban environment when his parents eventually relocated the family to Cincinnati, OH. Tommy graduated from Hughes High School, where he excelled in football as a star middle linebacker.
Tommy’s future athletic and academic career were sidelined when he was diagnosed with kidney disease in his twenties. Tommy received a kidney transplant in October of 1969, when this procedure was still in its experimental phases. Living with a transplanted kidney for nearly 50 years, Tommy’s life has been nothing short of miraculous, and this is a testament to his strength, courage, resiliency, and zest for life. Throughout his life, Tommy remained an ardent advocate for the life-saving potential of organ donation: volunteering with the National Kidney Foundation, conducting hospital visits with other transplant recipients, working with state legislators to get the organ donor option added to Kentucky driver’s licenses, and competing in international Olympic games for transplant recipients in Athens, Greece. Tommy’s work in this area ultimately earned him a designation as an official Kentucky Colonel.
Throughout his life, Tommy worked hard and dreamed big. Along the way, he channeled this passion for life into a variety of entrepreneurial activities, including starting his own transportation company, Cherokee Transfer and his own restaurant, Tommy’s Deli.
Tommy loved the outdoors, and he relished his time spent on vacations with his long-standing group of tight-knit friends (affectionately dubbed, the FUBAR group). Upon retirement, Tommy adopted his now familiar motto of “Whatever,” a carefree challenge to life’s previous worries. He even went so far as to commission a pair of his favorite Nike’s (white, low-cut shoes with a red swoosh) to be emblazoned with this slogan. Those familiar with this fashion statement may take comfort in knowing that Tommy will be wearing these shoes as he takes his final journey into the unknown.
In his retirement, Tommy developed a talent for woodworking and became passionate about painting, creating many colorful works, which he eagerly shared with friends and family. Tommy and his wife, Michele, also set out on an ambitious mission to visit every National Park in the country. While they were unable to finish this quest in Tommy’s lifetime, they were able to see all of the major sites, and they were in the process of checking off some of the smaller parks, as well. Their progress is documented in Tommy’s amazing wildlife photos and his medallion-covered walking stick. However, Tommy was most at peace when he was relaxing outdoors on a warm Florida evening or spending quality time at home with his many grandchildren and his beloved dogs.
Tommy is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Ava, his sister, Sissy, and his brother, Jerry. Tommy is survived by his wife, Michele Strunk, of Delaware, OH; his daughter, Dawn Leritz (Andy) of Portland, OR; his son, Shane Strunk (Rachel), of Cincinnati, OH; and his stepsons Trevor (Kim) of Lewis Center, OH and Kevin (Jo Anne) Kershner of Powell, OH. Tommy was a loving grandfather to Coco Leritz, Orion Strunk, Cassidy Kershner, Mitchell Kershner, Zach Kershner, Patrick Kershner, and Cole Kershner. Tommy also leaves behind his beloved four-legged children, Buddy and Katie.
A memorial service will be held at 10am on August 12 at Schoedinger Funeral and Cremation Service(6699 North High Street, Worthington, OH 43085). Immediately following the service, a reception will be held at the Village at North Falls Clubhouse (6951 Falls View Circle, Delaware, OH 43015). In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Kobacker House, the National Kidney Foundation, or the American Cancer Society.
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