Galen M. Strain

CLINTON — Galen M. Strain, 72, of Clinton, Ill., passed away at 2:16 p.m. on July 5, 2012 at Decatur Memorial Hospital, Decatur, Ill.

A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, July 8 at Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton. Services to celebrate his life will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 9 at the First Christian Church, Clinton, J. Kent Hickerson officiating. Interment will be at Long Point Cemetery, Wapella, Ill.

Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church.

Galen was born on August 26, 1939 in Fayette County, Illinois, son of John Strain and Virginia (Frailey) Strain. He married Marilyn Sievers on December 1, 1962 in Nokomis, Ill. She survives. They were planning to celebrate their 50th anniversary in December.

Survivors also include two sons David (Deborah) Strain, Davenport, Iowa, and Kevin (Teresa) Strain, Wichita, Kan.; one grandson Justin Strain, Witt, Ill.; brother Stanley (Topsy) Strain, Ramsey, Ill.; two sisters Margery Bright Surprise, Ariz., and Carol (Don) Windus, also of Surprise, Ariz., and several nieces and nephews.

His parents and one infant brother preceded him in death.

He graduated from Herrick High School in 1957 and entered Eastern Illinois University, where he received his B.S. in Education, majoring in Science and Math.

In 1968, he received his Master’s Degree in Teaching from the University of Missouri of Rolla. He also received his advanced degree from the University of Illinois. His first teaching position was at DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago in 1961.

In 1963 he and his wife moved to Clinton, Ill., when he accepted a teaching position at Clinton High School. For many years he was Chairman of the Science Department, coach and AV Director. He retired 30 years later from that position in May 1993.

In addition to teaching at Clinton, he was with the adjunct faculty for Heartland College and Lincoln College in Bloomington. For nearly 30 years he taught science and math at Richland Community College. He was still employed there at the time of his death. In 1995-96 Richland Community College awarded him Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Member in the Industrial Technology and Mathematics Division.

His hobby was genealogy, and he loved researching his family tree and his ancestors. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution. He also belonged to the DeWitt/Logan County Retired Teachers Association. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Clinton and served as an usher for many, many years, He volunteered and delivered food for the church’s food pantry weekly. He was a staunch Republican and served several terms as precinct committeeman.

Galen loved helping his fellow man. His mind was full of trivia, and he delighted in sharing what he knew with anyone who would listen.

He enjoyed tutoring students who needed help with math and science. He never met a stranger.

Online condolences may be emailed to www.calvertmemorial.com