Donna Elaine Stritzke

Funeral service for Donna will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, February 7, 2022 at Faith Holiness Tabernacle Church, Claremore. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Sunday, February 6, from 1pm -6pm.

Donna Elaine (Wilhide) Stritzke, 70, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2022 with her family by her side. She courageously battled a lengthy illness with the support of her dedicated husband, Fred. She managed the illness privately so that her focus could be on others rather than on her illness.

Donna was born March 1, 1951 in Claremore, OK, to George and Neva (Williams) Wilhide. Donna was raised and educated in Claremore and graduated with the Claremore High School Class of 1969. During high school, she enjoyed working at the Claremore Public Library, which contributed to her decision to pursue a BS degree in English with a minor in Library Sciences at the University of Oklahoma.

Donna worked at Claremore Federal Savings and Loan as a clerk, and it was through this employment that she was introduced to her future husband, Fred Stritzke.

Fred and Donna were married on March 23, 1974 in Claremore, OK, and resided on the family farm in Talala, OK. From this union came three children: Diane, Amy, and David. Having been raised in town, Donna had much to learn about living on a farm, like how to drive a grain truck, unload grain into a granary, work cattle, shear sheep, raise chickens, haul hay, step off fertilizer, ride a motorcycle, pasteurize milk, grow a garden, preserve food (home canning), bake bread, etc. In addition, she learned that when making plans, “it all depends on the weather”.

Donna was an avid reader and she excelled in her hobbies of sewing, knitting, crocheting, quilting, and card-making. She was a member of the Bartlesville Smocking and Heirloom Sewing Guild, the Smocking and Heirloom Sewing Guild of Tulsa, the local Ministry Match card ministry, and several Bible study groups. Donna was not one to sit idle – she always had multiple sewing, crocheting, or card-making projects going at any given time, but she rarely kept the completed projects for herself. She sewed cloth masks for nurses and infusion patients, care bags for cancer patients, gowns for tiny angels, burp cloths and hooded towels for newborns, project bags for sewing workshops, and miscellaneous bags, quilts, samplers, and other creations for family and friends. She also loved sending greeting cards to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other special occasions. She loved her family, valued her friendships, and cared for those she knew, but her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, George and Neva Wilhide, her sister, Melba Pope, and her infant brother, Gary Wilhide.

She is survived by her husband of almost 48 years, Fred Stritzke. Her children: Diane Holley and spouse Britt, Amy Claflin and spouse Cory, and David Stritzke and spouse Shelan. Her grandchildren: Grace Holley, Declan Holley, Conner Claflin, and Hunter Claflin. Her sister: Cheryl Baker and spouse Steve. Her brother-in-law: Johnny Pope. She will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends.

Those who wish to make a memorial contribution may do so by contributing to the Oklahoma Cancer Specialists Cares Fund via the Tulsa Community Foundation. https://tulsacf.org//?=244 You may also honor Donna by donating blood at your local blood donation center or by making a donation to a charity of your choice.
The family would like to express special thanks and appreciation to the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Oklahoma Cancer Specialists and Research Institute (OCSRI), Ascension St. John Jane Phillips Hospital, and A-Vow Hospice for the incredible level of care and support they provided throughout the course of her treatment.