Ricks Enterprises

Web Site Dedication

This Web Site Is Dedicated In Loving Memory To Al Strunk & Extended To His Sears & Retail Business Colleagues: To his old Air Force Buddies; To all his Friends gone on now.. & To All Our Good Fathers And Mothers Who Have Passed On..

Alvin D. Strunk 9/22/1917 - 10/2/2002

Al Strunk, born in Morton Illinois, the youngest in a large family, earned his BA at Bradley University and then for most of his life was the Store Manager of a number of different Sears Stores in the midwest including Ottawa, IL; Casper WY; Joplin MO; Kansas City and Manhattan KS. He retired from Sears in December of 1979.

During WWII he served his country as a Major in the Air Force and was the Director of Flying at Murano Air Force Base near Tucson AZ. He married his High school sweetheart, but tragically she died after their first 6 months of marriage during an operation while getting her tonsils removed and then later he was married to Eunice Wilson (An Artist M. A. and Scholar) and had 3 children (Ricky; Randy & Rosemary). He was very active in Community work and as a Rotarian and Shriner for many years.

Words From His Son Richard Byron Strunk (Ricky):

My father passed away last week. I am managing well although working at a slower pace now. I'll probably have my new web site loaded and running before the end of the month, but exactly when is something I am unsure of at this time.

My father lived a long life and benefited everyone he came in contact with. His death was quick, painless and peaceful. I do miss him, but I am sure he still exists in spirit in higher dimensions than time in what many call paradise.

He had no vices. He was habitually considerate, loving and gentle. He had great character traits and no real flaws. He was always kind and very reliable and dependable. He was worthy of anyone's trust. I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

For the vast majority of my life Dad was the kind of Father most kids only dream of having. I loved my father very much.

For the last 10 years Dad has in some sense died for me because of his illness (Alzheimer's). He could no longer recall that mom was his wife. He couldn't recall large periods of his life. He couldn't remember what we were talking about on the phone after a few seconds or that I had called.

Still, nothing can prepare a son for the physical death of his father. Even in his illness he was always considerate and kind and I could at least hear his voice and speak with him.

Now he is completely gone.
The finest man I have ever personally known.
I miss him now even more.

Still, He and I shared a firm faith in the Christ and an afterlife in the higher dimensions many call heaven or paradise. Now I know his spirit is there and he is completely restored from his terrible illness and is competent once again.
I am glad for this, but will continue to miss him on this side of reality in these lower 4 dimensions.

Thank you all who sent cards and thanks to all my friends who expressed their genuine sympathy to me concerning this event.

Dad spoke little, but his actions in relation to everyone who came in contact with him or knew him spoke volumes demonstrating and communicating good character and all that is faithful and true.

As my sister Rose reminded all of us at the memorial service, Dad was a fine and devoted Christian who substantiated his genuine love for others with consistent, reliable and significant actions, as well as, loving others in his thought and in his heart and was inspired in part by the insightful and meaningful writings of another outstanding Christian Norman Vincent Peal.

In addition to loving my Father I liked Dad very much and have always been thankful for his consistent, loving, encouragement, praise and patience and the cheerfulness he brought to my life everyday. He always had a compassionate ear when I would tell him of my problems and would try to help solve them even when he didn't always understand them or me.

More then this though he was this way with all his Sears employees as well And even strangers. He was always Ready to help his employees with their problems with solutions and words of encouragement. To be this way with his son's and daughters is very fine, but he was so much more than the ordinary, for he was this way with all he knew including his employees. He was more than a mere boss he was an everyday hero and many of those he trained went on to become Sears Controllers and other high positions in the main Chicago Sears Office. They always valued him and their friendship with him even though they had surpassed him on the corporate ladder thanks to his excellent guidance.

I hope the best for all of you friends and once again I do thank all of you for your words of comfort in my time of sadness over my Dad's passing from this life.

My brother Randy read these words at the Memorial Service:

The Twenty-Third Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd,
I Shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures: He leader me
beside the still waters.
He restore my soul. He leader
me in the paths of righteousness
for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil: for Thou art with me: Thy
rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me
In the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil: my
cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the House of
the Lord forever.

Thank You all again for your kind words of Sympathy,

Your Friend
Rick

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