Michael Strang

Mike Strang MARION-Mike Strang, 40, of Marion passed away at 7:35 PM, Saturday, March 1, 2008 in Marion. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at the Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Elder Gordon Lambert and Dr. Bob Dickerson officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion. Memorials may be made to the Marion Regional Humane Society; envelopes are available at the funeral home or may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home, PO Box 411, Marion, IL 62959. Mike was born on December 1, 1967 in Marion, Illinois to James Thomas and Judy (Bain) Strang. Among the grieving are his beloved son, Zachary; his mother, Judy; sister and brother-in-law, Michelle and Mark Roberts; brother and sister-in-law, Mitch and Tatia Strang and their children, Jesse and Josie; his fiance, Zena Phillips and her daughter, Courtney; Granny Marguerite Bain; uncle, Denny Strang and family; uncle, Keith Bain and family; extended family, Bob and Myra Durham, Dean and Christine Durham, Joe and Julia Durham, Bob and Pat Durham; his dear friend, “Buddy” his black lab; and many special people in Mike's life including the Paul family, Sue Boyt, his work buddies, his friends at the Elks, and a town full of real buddies and true friends. Those leaving before him include his dad, Tom Strang; grandparents, Jim and Ann Strang; grandpa, Gene Bain; Bob Boyt and Leamon Chancy all who were mentors to him at different times. Mike graduated in 1986 from Marion High School, married Becky Boyt and started their family life with their son, Zachary Michael. He worked several places as he grew and went to school at SIU Automotive as he was a whiz at fixing everyone's car. He later went to work at E. N. Baker as a Service Writer and made many new friends there. From there the construction field called him and he worked for and learned much from Jim Zeller and Jerry Ross. As he grew in knowledge, he and his partner, Rodney Evrard, decided they could successfully own a business and with help from Mike's friend, Bob Boyt, and now office manager, Andy Goodwin, they did just that. Mike was always a sunny, happy kid who always tried to fix everything for everybody and he was successful most of the time.