Ernie Strate

Visitation: 5:00 PM on August 29, 2011 Funeral: 2:30 PM on August 30, 2011 Ernie "Butch" Strate, 61, of Decatur, IL, passed away at 11:53 a.m. Friday, August 26, 2011 at Decatur Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 30, at Brintlinger & Earl Funeral Home, Decatur. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Monday, August 29 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Macon County Fair Board Memorial Fund or St. Jude Children's Hospital. Ernie was born July 15, 1950, in Springfield, IL, the son of Ernest Frank Jr and Dorothy (Griffin) Strate. He married Linda Maynor, and had celebrated 41 years of marriage together. Ernie graduated from Stephen Decatur High School and attended Millikin University. Ernie was co-owner and CEO of Airweld from 1998 to present, was a purchasing agent for D&R Welding Supply for 18 years, and also retired from Kroger after many years of service. He was President of Macon County Fair Board, a strong supporter of Millikin University women's basketball team, and an avid racing fan. He enjoyed all sports and was on the N&W Fellowship bowling league. Surviving are his wife Linda of Decatur; sons Ernie (Laura) Strate of Des Moines, IA and Stuart (Liz) Strate of Forsyth, IL; sisters Vicki (Harmoz) Mahdavi of Sherman Oaks, CA, Sherry (Kevin) Niles of Heyworth, IL, and Kendra (Randy) Ratliff of Monroe, LA; and grandchildren Emma, Colin, and Tyler Strate. Ernie was preceded in death by his parents. "
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