John Strickling, February 10, 1935 — February 04, 2019

John Strickling, 83, of Bonita Springs, FL, passed away on Monday, February 4, 2019. Formerly of Ionia, MI, he had been a Bonita Springs resident since 2012. He was born February 10, 1935 in Hempstead, NY, the son of Claude and Susan (Seaman) Strickling.

John moved to Ionia, Michigan with his mother and four brothers when he was five years old. He attended Hubble School where he was first introduced to the McPherson family, in particular their youngest daughter. He and Thelma would continue to be a couple for the next seven decades.

John didn’t finish high school, instead went to work at the local Kroger until he could earn a G.E.D. An accomplishment he was always very proud of. He retired from the Fisher Body Plant in Lansing MI in 1992, and on the weekend of his and Thelma’s 50th wedding anniversary he fulfilled a lifelong dream and became an Ordained Pastor serving at the Resurrection Church of Ionia MI. John was fortunate enough to again find true love after he moved to Bonita Springs, FL, his dogged determination and tenaciousness finally convinced Mary Ann Martello to say yes and make him the happiest he had been in many years.

They were married in May 2018. John loved to play euchre at the Harbor Club clubhouse with his friends on Friday night and looked forward to Blueberry Festival with Dick Kleisler and Pierre Rachon every Tuesday night at Perkins. He truly enjoyed his golden years with special friends and neighbors in the Imperial Harbor community.

He was frequently seen with his buddies and close friend Joe Sanders hanging in Joes driveway telling their fish stories. Mr. Strickling is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ann (Martello) Strickling; his beloved son, Matt (Christine) Strickling of Bonita Springs, FL and; his brother, Claude (Marilyn) Strickling of Orleans, MI; four cherished grandchildren, Heather Strickling, John Strickling, Matthew Strickling and Mallory (Jack) Belille; and two treasured great grandchildren, Slater and Connor. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Thelma (McPherson) Strickling in 2011 and his son, Mark Strickling in 2011, also his daughter Amy Smith in 2019, and son in law Robert Smith in 2017.

Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home – Family Owned Since 1978. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John Strickling please visit our Sympathy Store.

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