Ceylon Strey
Ceylon R. “Bud” Strey, 94, of Sun City West, AZ, went home to the Lord on the morning of Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
Ceylon Robert Strey was born Aug. 27, 1927, in the Town of York, Clark County, to Robert and Anna (Thomas) Strey. He was raised on the family farm until a heart illness forced him from the family farm to live in Milwaukee. Bud attended Milwaukee Vocational School at age 16 and held numerous jobs, including the repairing of typewriters for Gimbals and Schuster’s and Sperry Candy Company, where he met Martha White while working toward a watch-maker’s license, which he was very proud to achieve. He married Martha White May 13, 1950, in Spencer, and they returned to reside in Milwaukee. Together they established a pearl stringing shop and later a typewriter repair shop in Loyal. In 1955, he was hired by General Motors at AC Spark Plug in Milwaukee. He later became a supervisor in the clean rooms, as the company changed its name to GM Delco Electronics and produced gyroscopes for NASA’s Project Apollo Moon missions. Bud retired from GM in 1988 after 33 years. He next helped establish Twin Oaks Farms Thoroughbred Racing and Breading Stable and was thrilled to watch a number of his homebred run and win on the Illinois racetracks. In 1997, he retired for good, and he and Martha moved from Wisconsin to Sun City West, AZ.
Bud liked to spend time on the farm or at the racetrack with the horses. In addition, he was an avid deer hunter in central Wisconsin. He loved to fish for coho salmon in Lake Michigan and for walleye in Canada. In earlier years, Bud would ride his motorcycle and play baseball. His favorite sport was football, and he was an avid Green Bay Packer fan.
He will be missed by his wife, Martha, of Azle, TX; his sons, Richard (Catherine) Strey of Azle, TX, Jeffery (Sue) Strey of La Valle, and Gregory Strey of East Troy; five grandchildren, Tiffany Strey of Racine, Jenifer (Brian) Lerch of Oconomowoc, Nicole Strey of Quartz Hill, CA, Andrew Strey of Vernon and Jamie Strey of Elkhorn; and one great-grandson, Jonathan Lerch of Oconomowoc. He is further survived by two sisters, LaVern Morin of Menomonee Falls and Norma Potter of Marshfield; and a brother, Robert (JoAnn) Strey of Franklin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Joyce Strey; three sisters, Elsie Fricke, Helen Domine, Hazel Seeman; and four brothers, Eralen, Ernie, Raymond and Victor Strey.
A graveside service will be held at Windfall Cemetery in Granton Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Daniel Zimmerman officiating.
Online condolences may be expressed at cuddiefh.com.
Cuddie Funeral Home of Loyal, WI, is assisting the family with arrangements.