Samuel Edward Stroup

Memorial services for Samuel E. Stroup will be conducted from the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr., officiating. Interment will be held at Hope Lutheran Cemetery in rural Smithfield, Nebraska with Military Honors provided by Martin Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the U.S. Navy Military Honors Team.

Samuel Edward Stroup, 84 years of age, passed away on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Sam was born July 25, 1927 in Holdrege, the youngest son of Dale D. and Lillian (Brown) Stroup. He graduated from Holdrege High School with the Class of 1945. That same year, he joined the U.S. Navy in August. Sam married Wauneta "Nita" Fastenau on November 23, 1951. To this union four children were born: Steven, Kirk, Samuel A. and Holly. Sam attended one year of college at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and later, attended Purdue University, graduating with a degree in Life Insurance Marketing. He worked for Ohio National Life Insurance for over fifty years selling life insurance, writing pension plans and providing estate planning services. He received his CLU degree in 1970.

Sam was a member of the Holdrege First Presbyterian Church for over sixty years and very active in the church choir as well as serving in many of the offices. He was a life time member of the Holdrege Jaycee's and served as the organization's president. Sam was also a member of the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce, the Holdrege Country Club, American Legion, and Rotary International, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. Sam enjoyed fishing and hunting with his sons, and could frequently be found out on the golf course with his many friends. Sam and his wife, Nita started traveling in 1976 and visited all fifty states and fifty-seven countries. They shared some of their vacations with their children and grandchildren. Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Nita, in 2001.

Sam married Jacqulyn (Johnson) Hueftle on October 27, 2001 and they continued to travel. His now extended family included four more children and ten grandchildren, of which several liked Grandpa Sam to take them out to the golf course and teach them how to play pool. Sam and Jacque enjoyed traveling to many places that were extra special to him, including almost all fifty states. They spent several winters in Arizona, sharing that time with friends. Many trips were shared with long time friends and their wives. He was honored to go on the Phelps County Hero Flight in September 2009 with World War II Veterans and be chosen to be one of the four Veterans to lay the wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

His sweet tooth was well known about town and he knew where all the candy dishes were. He liked to keep some in his pocket at all times and enjoyed sharing this candy with his friends.

Besides his wife Nita, he was preceded in death by, his parents and a grandson, Jason Stroup and sister-in-law, Miriam "Shorts" Fastenau.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Jacque of Holdrege; children: Steven Stroup and his wife, Susan, Kirk Stroup and his wife, Lori, all of Holdrege, Samuel A. Stroup and his wife, Roxanna of Arvada, Colorado, Holly Rowland and her husband, Bob of Las Vegas, Nevada; his extended family: Scott and Kris Hueftle and Jeff and Monica Hueftle all of Holdrege, Stacy and Dave Havenridge of Pleasant Hill, Iowa and Marti and Troy Baily of Omaha, Nebraska; nineteen grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; brother, Bob and Rogene Stroup of Lenexa, Kansas; brothers-in-law: Keith "Swede" and Charlotte Fastenau of Bertrand, Nebraska, Eldon and Joanne Hueftle of Holdrege and Jim and LeAnn Johnson of Blue Hill, Nebraska; sisters-in-law: Loretta and LeRoy Kuck of Smithfield and Kim Johnson of Red Cloud, Nebraska, along with a host of other family members and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established and kindly suggested to the Nebraska Prairie Museum, Meals-on-Wheels or the Phelps County Community Foundation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.