James Strand

Jim Strand passed away on June, 24, 2023. He enjoyed his retirement in 2009 until he became ill from the effects of Alzheimer’s and entered a care home in 2021. His death there was peaceful; he died in his sleep.

Jim was born March 16, 1947, in Lansing, Michigan, to Charles and Jean Chamberlain Strand. His first years were spent living in the prefabricated steel Quonset huts at Michigan State University that were added to the campus after WWII. It is fair to say he was a Spartan from birth.

He lived in Akron, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada, before moving to Battle Creek, Michigan. He graduated from Lakeview High School in 1965, and then completed his undergraduate degree in Business Administration at MSU.

After his marriage to Janice Nemrava Strand in 1970, they moved to Orlando, Florida where Jim obtained his graduate degree in Mathematics and Computer Science at Florida Technological University (now University of Central Florida). He then started his 30 year career with IBM in Boca Raton, Florida as a member of a small team led by Philip “Don” Estridge. Jim helped develop a product with the code name “Acorn" - it was the personal computer that became the standard for the PC industry. Jim later moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he concentrated his efforts in the software divisions of IBM. Jim and Janice moved to Seattle, Washington in 2017.

Jim will be missed by Janice and their two daughters, Maggie Knowles (Eric) of Edmonds, Washington, and Briana Lindenbaum (Josh) of Portland, Oregon; grandchildren Aiden, Joshua, and Beau Knowles, and Millie and Annie Lindenbaum; brother-in-law Roger Nemrava (Marilyn); aunt Jean Chamberlain of Royal Oak, Michigan; niece Jennifer King, and nephew Chad Moore; many Chamberlain and Gallagher cousins, including Marty Chamberlain Williams (Joe); good friends; and the caregivers at Serene Home in Seattle.

In lieu of gifts, please consider planting a tree in Jim’s memory. Information concerning a memorial celebration will be available soon.