Michael R. Strasser, 60, of Onalaska, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2010 at the Hillview Healthcare Center in La Crosse following a grueling four month battle with an aggressive rare cancer. He was born on February 12, 1950 in La Crosse to John and Alice (Veglahn) Strasser. He graduated from Aquinas High School in 1968, where he was active in football, baseball and basketball. There he was honored with the Olympathon Award for overall athletic excellence.
From 1971-73, during the Vietnam War, Mike served in the U.S. Navy as a Radioman first class, with top secret clearance, at the Naval Command Station in San Diego, CA.
On September 6, 1975 he married Mary Rose Winkel at the Newman Center in La Crosse. They lived in West Salem and Onalaska for most of their life together.
Mike received a degree in Business Administration from UW-La Crosse in 1975, and an MBA degree from UW-La Crosse/Eau Claire in 1977. In the 1980's and 1990's he spent 10 years teaching accounting, finance, and management information systems at UW-La Crosse, Viterbo University and Winona State University.
He began a career in public accounting in 1978 with a job at Hawkins, Ash, Baptie & Co. In 1980 he opened his own CPA practice in La Crosse, which he later moved to Onalaska and operated until the early 2000's. Since that time Mike had been a partner with Dr. Leo Malin in two dental implant businesses, Neuromuscular Implant Systems and Implant Solutions.
Mike served as president of the La Crosse/ Winona chapter of the National Association of Accountants for several years. He served terms on boards of the La Crosse Community Credit Union and Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center of Lanesboro, MN.
He lived by a strong code of ethics and was known for his honesty. He had a thirst for knowledge and was an innovative and creative thinker with a clever sense of humor. He was a man who cared deeply for his friends and family.
The light of Mike's life was his wife Mary, with whom he shared a love of animals and nature. The two of them spent many happy hours together outdoors with their dogs, and traveling to pristine natural areas around the world.
Mike was also known for his passionate interest in golf. He won various golf awards through the years. One of his proudest moments on the golf course was shooting a score of 68 from the championship tees at Drugan's Country Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, "Jack" Strasser; a niece, Julie Strasser; and a brother-in-law, Joseph Lonkoski.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Mary, his brother, James (Mary E.) Strasser of Onalaska; his sisters Judith Lonkoski and Diane (Wayne) Wheeler of Onalaska; and Sharon (Thomas) Tyler of Holmen; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held on Monday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patricks Catholic Church, 1031 Main Street Onalaska. The Reverend Delbert Malin will officiate and burial will be in the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Sunday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 5:00 p.m. A time of visitation will also be held at the church on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until time of services. Information and on-line condolences may be given to the family at www.dickinsonfuneralhomes.com. The Dickinson Family Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the Coulee Region Humane Society and the Myrick-Hixon EcoPark.
Mike's family would like to express special appreciation to the wonderful staff at Hillview Healthcare Center, to Reverend Delbert Malin and Reverend Scott Skogen, and to the generous friends and relatives who supported Mike and his family during his illness.
