Eileen Strack was born July 22, 1926 to Francis and Evelyn Anderson in LaHarpe, Kansas. She was raised with dairy cows and delivered milk to customers at a very young age. She attended Iola School where she graduated from high school and worked as a substitute teacher at the age of 18 in a single room school country school, teaching grades 1st through 8th grades. Eileen attended Emporia State Teacher’s College where she received a Bachelor’s Degree, and later, her Master’s Degree. She was one of the first school counselors in the state of Kansas. She retired from teaching after 40 years. She was an avid gardener. At the age of 85, Eileen went to school once again to become an ombudsman and represented, her words, “the old people” by visiting nursing homes and reporting to management any needs of the residents.

Family members preceding her in death are her father Francis and her mother Edith Anderson, husband Earl Strack, son Dean Strack, sister Shirley Brown and brother Jim Anderson.

Surviving family members are son, Gary Strack, and two biological grandchildren, Travis and Stephanie and four great grandchildren. She was also “stuck with” two “bonus” grandchildren, Justin and Lorie Hicks, who adopted both she and Earl as their own grandparents. Many good memories were made with Eileen by all family!

Eileen was active in church playing the organ and other activities. She was a devoted mother and wife and friend to many people. She was married to her favorite person, Earl, just shy of 60 years. Eileen’s church family, extended family and friends, and the nurses and staff that cared for her at Grove Nursing Center are too numerous to mention but will always fondly remember her sense of humor, sweetness and smile.