Dr. Eugene Paul Strelka Jr.

 Our dad, Eugene Paul Strelka Jr., aged 83, passed away on May 10, 2026 in our family home in Salem Va. Dad's last month of life was full of love, laughter, music, stories, model trains and family visits surrounded by his six children, thirteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and most importantly, our mom, Mary Kate, who never left his side. You should know, though, he did not "go gently into this quiet night". He died as he lived;

a loud, proud, strong-like-bull, Bohonk from Chicago who put up a fight until the end.

Dad is preceded in death by his parents, Eugene Sr. and Blanche Strelka, who welcomed their overachieving, firstborn son on October 12, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois. The Czech neighborhood where Dad caused shenanigans with his younger brother, Bruce, in Berwyn, IL, laid a foundation for his devotion to his Czech heritage, his strong Catholic faith, and his lifelong dedication to the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bears. Go Bears!

After graduating from high school from St. Mel in Chicago, Dad was awarded a scholarship to attend St. Mary's College in Winona, MN, which he left after three years upon early acceptance to Loyola Medical School in Chicago. Dad graduated Summa Cum Laude from Loyola and completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Chicago in 1972.

Upon completing his training as an Orthopedic Surgeon, Dad served our country during the Vietnam War as a Major in the Army, where he provided state-side medical assistance to injured soldiers at Fort Belvoir Va. Following his military service he and Mom moved the first four of us children to Blacksburg and then Salem, Virginia, where they added twin boys to our already rowdy clan, for a total of eight Strelkas under one roof. Practicing medicine at Montgomery County Hospital in Blacksburg, Dad healed many, many lives during his long, esteemed career as an Orthopedic Surgeon. His life abruptly changed in 1982 when he suffered a spinal cord injury while performing surgery. Dad never walked again. One might think this would be the end of his story, but that was over forty years ago. We meant it when we said he was strong-like bull!

Dad continued to practice medicine for ten years, but then finally hung up his stethoscope for good. Over the course of the remaining three decades, he explored an array of creative outlets, most notably, he learned how to paint and draw, and was an avid gardener specializing in growing succulents and lavender. Some of his favorite moments, though, were spent with his family in his boat, cruising over the water of Smith Mountain Lake blasting The Beach Boys, and cheering on his beloved Chicago Bears.

Dad is survived by his devoted wife, full-time caregiver, and Strelka Circus Matriarch of more than sixty years, Mary Kate Strelka, and his brother, Bruce Strelka of Manteca, CA. His six children: Carrie (Strelka) Poff and husband Keven Poff, Dan Strelka and wife Ingrid Strelka, Mary Jo (Strelka) Sears and husband, Jeff Sears, Jill (Strelka) McGrath and husband, Sean McGrath, Andy Strelka and wife Liza Key Strelka, Tommy Strelka and fiancée Laura Wire. He was known as "Papa" to his thirteen grandchildren, Emily (David), Patrick (Sophia), Caroline (Brandon), Annalise (Hunter), Nick (Hannah), Daniel (Taylor), Erin, Sam, Charlie, Griffith, Vivienne, Magnolia and Frances, who brought him infinite joy, along with his three great-grandchildren, Samuel, Violet, and Silas.

Dad's faith carried him through every triumph and every hardship, and we take comfort knowing he is now healed, restored, and reunited with those who went before him. We can only imagine the joy of him standing tall again, surrounded by peace, music, art, and light. Until we meet again, we will carry his memory in everything we do. Cheers to you, Dad, a legendary life well lived!

A Celebration of Life with a Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church, 2505 N. Electric Rd, Roanoke, VA on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 11:00am, Visitation will precede the funeral mass from 9:30am-11:00am, also at Our Lady of Nazareth. Reception will follow the mass in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders following this link:

https://events.doctorswithoutborders.org/campaigns/Strelka

Online condolences may be expressed to the Strelka family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.