Charles “Bob” Stragier

Bob Stragier passed away July 17, 2021 after a lengthy illness – the world has lost a very special man.  He was born Charles Robert Stragier in Lansing, Michigan, on January 18, 1936, but he was known as Bob his entire life.  Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Jane Stragier; infant brother, William Paul Stragier; and stepfather, Paul Beach.  Bob was a loving husband, father, step-father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Gloria, daughter Robbyn (David) Blackman, son Steve (Judy) Stragier, and stepsons David Carpenter and Scott (Monique) Carpenter. He is also survived by grandsons Matt (Michelle) Phelps, Christopher Stragier, Ryan  Carpenter, Colin Carpenter; granddaughters, Kasey (Sawyer) McFadden, Allica (Jared) Beckwith, Morghan (Jay) Rustenholz, Brindlea Peterson, Kadyn Reisterer; great-granddaughters, Rebekah Olfert, and Katie Bartol, Evelyn Beckwith; and great-grandson Bentley Rustenholtz; as well as many extended family members.

Bob attended Eastern High School from 1951-1953. While at Eastern High School, he earned seven Varsity letters and was captain of the Varsity baseball team for two years. In 2016, he was inducted into the Lansing Eastern High School Athletic Hall of Fame, an honor which meant a great deal to him.  After graduating from Lansing Eastern, Bob attended  Michigan State College. In 1954, he left MSC when he signed a professional baseball contract as a left-handed pitcher with the Milwaukee Braves (now Atlanta Braves).  Unfortunately, his baseball career ended abruptly when he injured his shoulder.  Following his baseball career, Bob returned to Lansing and played basketball for ten years in the city
league, winning several State championships. In 2018, he was inducted into the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame, another honor of which he was very proud.  After his baseball career, Bob was employed by the Lansing Board of Water and Light for ten years.  Eventually his career switched to education sales. Bob retired from MPI (Michigan Products, Incorporated) after 41 years as Executive Vice-President and Sales Manager. Bob was member of the South Lansing Rotary for many years and served as President 1983-84. He was also named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.  Bob genuinely loved people (especially children) and considered anyone he met a friend. He developed lasting friendships with people he met through work, travel, and in the many communities he and Gloria lived throughout their marriage. Bob loved to talk about his many life experiences and his friends often heard his favorite stories many times. He also loved to tell children stories and even accompanied his granddaughter to kindergarten on one occasion to read her favorite “big” book to her class.  Bob and Gloria were fortunate to be able to travel throughout the United States and visit many countries after retirement. During his long illness, Bob enjoyed looking at their many travel albums and reminiscing about all the things they saw and the people they met. He especially liked to point out to visitors a map of the world on his wall with red pins marking all the places he had visited.  Bob was a man of faith and attended Presbyterian churches in Lansing and Holt before joining the St. Luke Lutheran Church of Haslett.

Special thanks to all Bob’s “family” at Robinwood Landing Alzheimer’s Special Care Center and to Hospice for their compassionate care.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 22, 2021, at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 5589 Van Atta Road, Haslett.  Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.  His family will receive friends at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday. There will be a luncheon after the burial, at The Fenner Nature Center Pavilion, at 2020 E. Mt. Hope AVE, Lansing, MI 48910. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church or 2021 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in memory of Charles R. Stragier.  We also ask everyone to do a “random act of kindness” in memory of Bob.