LaVern "Toby" Strause

LaVern “Toby” Dwight Strause, 75, of Muscatine, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at his residence, surrounded by family. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at the Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Muscatine, where the family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Saturday. Interment will be private. Memorials have been established for the Louisa County Area Vietnam Veterans. Online condolences can be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.

Toby was born June 24, 1949 in Muscatine, Iowa, the son of Ivan Carl and Marjorie Pearl (Terrill) Strause. He graduated from Louisa-Muscatine High School in 1968. In 1969, Toby attended basic training for the United States Army in Louisiana. He received parachute jump training with the U.S. Army Airborne School in Ft. Benning, Georgia and went on to attended Pathfinder school. He was the recipient of both the American and the Vietnamese Jump Wings. He served honorably during the Vietnam War.  Toby was united in marriage to Patti Watson on May 15, 1971 in Muscatine.

Toby worked for Hon until his retirement in 2004.  In his youth, he was a part of a Blue Grass band called Pathfinder, which led to traveling and an eventual move to Nashville. Later in life, Toby served as Chairman of the Veteran Affairs Commission in Muscatine. He was a founding member, along with his father, of the Fruitland Volunteer Fire Department and volunteered as a firefighter and EMT with the department. He was also a member of the Irons Motorcycle Club. Toby enjoyed camping, fishing, building custom motorcycles and wood crafting. His wood crafting project he was most proud of was a miniature replica red barn built to scale that he made for his grandchildren. His greatest joy in life came from the time he spent with his family.  

He will be deeply missed by his wife, Patti Strause of Muscatine; daughter, Jodi (Randy) Cousins of Muscatine; daughter, Sara (Kevin) Cousins of Muscatine; grandchildren: Bethany, Julia, Wade and Emilie; great-grandchildren: Vivien, Freya, Bowen, Jetzyn, Agustus, Magnolia, Sonder and Jason; siblings: David (Judy) Strause of Muscatine; Wanda Strause of West Liberty; and Birdie (Mike) Meyer Davenport.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Blaine Michael Strause; and brother, Wayne Strause.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of LaVern "Toby" Strause, please visit our floral store.