Nick Louis Stratos

Nick L. Stratos of La Porte, TX got to meet Jesus with his family holding his hands on October 1st at the age of 81, 4 days shy of his 82nd birthday. He was born on October 4, 1941 in Houston, TX at St Joseph’s Hospital. Dad, Papaw, Rusty, & Tricky were the many nicknames he had, but Dad and Papaw were his favorites.

Nick graduated from South Houston High School in 1959 and shortly after, left for the US Navy where he was stationed in Antarctica at McMurdo Station for Operation Deep Freeze. He was in Antarctica for 6 months at a time but in total spent 3 years there. He did “winter over” one year and received a medal for that. He was a Crew Chief for the Aircraft Maintenance Division and came home in 1965.

While home on leave in 1964, he married the love of his life, Jean Jackson. He did go back to serve for another 6 months after getting married.

Nick & Jean made their first home in Pasadena and in 1967, Nick Jr was born. They moved to Cleveland in 1972 where Nick was a machinist for Diamond Shamrock. When the economy went south in the 80’s, they had a family business consisting of a Locker Plant, with a slaughterhouse and meat market, they stuffed many cases of sausage and cooked a lot of BBQ!

After moving to La Porte in 1985, he worked for OxyChem until he retired and still machined parts for them in his spare time in his garage. He was actually machining parts while Nick Jr visited a few weeks ago.

He was a member of a few RC Clubs and loved flying his many, and we mean, MANY, remote-controlled airplanes. He made many lifelong friends with this hobby, it was his passion for the past 20 years.

After losing Jean in 2016 he would go learn how to dance to Country & Western music at Chuter’s weekly, there he met Bobbie, his dance partner for the last few years. She has been a huge part of his life and they have made many friends through dancing. They would go dancing once a week if they weren’t at a fly-in.

If he wasn’t at a fly in on the weekend, you could find him in his regular spot at Faith Assembly of God in Pasadena, where his family attended for generations.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Jean, his father Nicholas, who died 3 months before Nick was born, his mother Miriam and step-father Sidney.

He is survived by his son Nick Jr, daughter in law, Kristin (Krissy) and favorite grandson, Trey (Toodle Britches) & Trey’s girlfriend Gabrielle (Gabby). He also had a special person in his life Roberta Barbera (Bobbie) who is missing his fancy dance moves.

Family Visitation will be at 9am, October 14, 2023 at Forest Park Lawndale in the Colonial Chapel. Friends are welcome at 9:30 with the Service beginning at 11:00am. Burial following at the family plot in the cemetery.

Everyone is invited to attend a Celebration of Nick’s life and lunch at the Pasadena Moose Lodge

3919 Mickey Gilley Blvd. Pasadena 77505 immediately after burial. Enjoy sharing stories of Nick with friends.