Livonia: Barney was quite a Story Teller. Those that had the chance to sit and share stories with this Amazing Man, always walked away with an education for sure! You could talk for hours and he left you Hungry for More. As one “Special Friend” said, “My only regret is that I didn’t know him sooner!” After 53 years, his son Jon, was still able to learn from this educator up until his last breath.
This man wore many hats in life; He was a husband, a father, coin collector, historian, walking book of knowledge, a source of laughter, a carpenter, lamp maker, heavy equipment operator for the Livingston County Highway Department, a miniature lamp collector, a book collector, a knife maker, the “CHESS MASTER”, he was an expert strategist, and excellent judge of character, he was a man of few words but those words were Strong!
HE IS A MARINE! Barney always said: “Once a Marine, Always a Marine.” Barney always enjoyed the stories about Mama Cindy Soldier Program and enjoyed reading the letters and e-mails sent to Mama Cindy from the soldiers. He so enjoyed seeing the pictures from the Military of the Present and began to share “His” Military stories in the “United State Marine Corps.” I always told Barney, He was my Marine of the past, My Marine of the Present and will ALWAYS be My Marine in my heart FOREVER!
If you would like to give a donation instead of flowers, you can make your checks out to: Mama Cindy Soldier Program and send to 5002 Old Bald Hill Road, Hemlock, NY 14466. To learn more about this program, please take a moment to visit the website: www.mamacindy.freesevers.com.
Barney felt this would be a gift that would Keep On Giving. GOD BLESS! Mama Cindy, AKA Cynthia L. Strasburg.
When I Get To Where I’m Going
When I get where I’m going
On the far side of the sky
The first thing that I’m gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly
I’m gonna land beside a lion
An run my fingers though his mane
Or I might find out what it’s like
To ride a drop of rain
Yeah when I get where I’m going
There’ll be only happy tears
I Will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years
And I’ll leave my Heart wide open
I will Love and have “No Fear”
Yeah when I get where I’m going
Don’t cry for me down here.
I’m gonna walk with my grandaddy
And he’ll match me step for step
And I’ll tell him how I missed him
Every minute since he left
Then I’ll hug his neck
So much pain, so much darkness
In this world we struggle through
All these questions I can’t answer
So much work to do
But when I get to where I’m going
And I see my Makers face
I’ll stand forever in the light
Of His Amazing Grace
Yeah when I get where I’m going, There be only happy tears,
Hallelujah! I will Love and have no fear, when I get to where I’m
Going, Yeah when I get where I’m going
Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton – Rivers Rutherford/George Teren
Strasburg, Bernard A. “Barney”
Livonia: Bernard “Barney” Strasburg, 81 years of South Livonia Road, Livonia died Saturday morning, January 10, 2009 at the home of his son in Hemlock. He was born in Lebanon, NY September 26, 1927 the son of Lawrence and Nellie Merrifield Strasburg. Barney was a proud veteran of World War 2 having served in the US Marine Corps. He was retired from the Livingston County Highway Department where he was employed as a heavy equipment operator. He was an avid reader, chess player, coin collector along with having a host of other interests. Barney was predeceased by his wife Katherine in 1982.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Jon and Cindy Strasburg of Hemlock; gransdon, Michael Strasburg; great-grandsons James and Gavin Strasburg. His sister, Dorothy Artlip of Cohocton; several nieces and nephews and many dear friends.
Friends may call Monday 2-4, 7-9 PM at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home, Inc. Routes 15 and 20A (21 Big Tree St) Livonia where services will be held on Tuesday at 11 AM. Family and friends are encouraged to bring their memories of Barney to share. Spring Burial, Oak Ridge Cemetery, Lima. Expressions of sympathy to Mama Cindy’s Soldier Program 5002 Old Bald Hill Road Hemlock, NY 14466.
www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com