Howard John Strey Sr., 87, long-time Austin, Minnesota, resident and Austin High School coach and teacher, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, in Apple Valley Minnesota, surrounded by his family.

He was born on the family farm in Wright County near Delano, Minnesota, on Oct. 19, 1930, the son of John and Hattie (Wandersee) Strey. He graduated from Delano High School in 1948 and from Hamline University in 1952. He married Jo Ann Haddorff on Dec. 22, 1952, at the United Methodist Church in Mound, Minnesota.

A Korean War veteran, he served in Okinawa as a communications and recreation specialist.  Following military deployment, he began his teaching career in Mapleton, Minnesota, before moving to Austin where he taught at Austin High School from 1957 to 1993. As AHS head and assistant basketball coach, he participated in three state tournaments, finishing runner-up in 1972 (assistant) and 1981 (head). As the assistant baseball coach, he participated in four state tournaments. He was Minnesota’s Assistant Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Riverland Community College Athletic Hall of Fame. He was an active member of Austin’s Westminster Presbyterian Church, Izaak Walton League, and the American Legion. His passions included fishing and hunting with family and friends as well as traveling with Jo Ann.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Clarence and Deloris Strey; and brother-in-law, Oscar Haddorff.

Howard is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jo Ann of Apple Valley; his children, Howie Jr. (Janet) of Duluth, Minnesota, Charlie (Mary) of Pella, Iowa, Tom (Ann) of Apple Valley, and Jamie (Kelly) of Burnsville, Minnesota; his grandchildren, Betsy (Dan), Jessi (Dan), Lora, Tim (Kulthida), Christina (Morgan), Jackie (Darren), Erin, Allison, Matt, Patrick, Paul, Colin, Duncan, Maddie, and Aiden; his great-grandchildren, Clara, Kalaya, Alice, Oliver, Hannah, Amelia, Miles, and Imogen; sister, Helen (Jack) Gardner; sister-in-law, Marion Haddorff; brothers-in-law, Jack (Jeanine) Haddorff and Bob (Ginger) Haddorff; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin with the Rev. Michael Olmsted officiating. Visitation will be at the church one hour before the service. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church or the donor’s choice. Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements and condolences may be conveyed online through clasenjordan.com.