Lillian Irene (Pollien) Strack was born February 18, 1926 in Lincoln County, Missouri to Fred Gottlief Pollien and Lydia Wilhelmena (Sanker) Pollien.  The family briefly moved to a farm near Angola, Kansas where her sister, Dorothy, was born.  After returning to the farm in Lincoln County three more sisters, Helen, Ida Mae, and Anna Marie were born.  Lillian was a second mother to her sisters.  She taught herself how to sew and made dresses for the family from feed sacks.  Lillian helped her father in the fields and with the livestock.  They survived the years of the Depression and the droughts.

Lillian attended eight years at Schroer School, the local one room school.  She always regretted not being able to attend high school.  Lillian obtained her GED in her forties.

Leroy William Strack and Lillian were married on August 23, 1946.  They had met at a dance at the Schuetzen grounds.  Leroy courted her braving dirt roads and creek crossings.  They had three children: Fred Louis born 1947, Marie Lydia born 1948, and Larry Leroy born 1951.  They lived in Warrenton until moving to a Lincoln County farm in 1957.  Lillian was a loving mother who made each birthday special by making two decorated birthday cakes.  She sewed lovely dresses.  Lillian was a hardworking farm wife with garden produce to can and strawberries to freeze.

Lillian was a 4-H leader for many years and led varied projects.  She served on the boards of both Strack Church (Harmonie) Cemetery and the Steinhagen Cemetery located in rural Warren County.

Leroy and Lillian moved to Harrisonville in 1992 to be near their children and grandsons.  The family enjoyed many dinners together relishing her delicious food.  She often treated her family to her special homemade cinnamon rolls.  Pinochle games were the focus of many family evenings.  Lillian enjoyed attending the grandchildren's activities.  She enjoyed sewing and gardening.

Lillian and Leroy joined the Harrisonville United Methodist Church.  She was an active member of the United Methodist Women.  She organized the lap robe project for many years, volunteered at the rummage sales and annual ham and bean dinner.  Lillian baked many pies for church events and potlucks.  She received the Outstanding Methodist Woman Award in 1996.  She also was a member of several Extension Clubs.

Lillian stayed active with daily walks and water aerobics until she was 93.  She did her own yard work and planted flowers and vegetables.  Time with family was treasured.  She used email and Facebook to stay in touch with family and friends.

She moved to Benton House in April of 2019 enjoying their many activities until COVID.

Lillian died March 31, 2021 at Crown Care in Harrisonville.

Lillian was preceded in death by her husband, Leroy; son, Fred; son in law, Jim Vallee; parents, Fred and Lydia Pollien; sisters, Dorothy Herzberg, Ida Mae Gerding, Anna Marie Warner; brothers in law; Eddy Lester, Ralph Gerding, Harold Warner, William Fischer and sister-in law; Esther (Strack) Fischer; Parents in law; Louis and Alma Strack, two nieces; Jeanette Van Beek and Debbie Herzberg, all her aunts and uncles and many cousins.

Lillian is survived by one sister, Helen Lester of Troy; two children, Marie Vallee and Larry Strack and wife Dorothy of Harrisonville; three grandsons; David Vallee, Ken Vallee and wife Kourtney, and Keith Strack and wife Erin and three great grandchildren, Isaac, Felicity and Autumn Strack; many nieces and nephew and numerous friends.

The family wishes to thank Crown Care and St. Croix Hospice for their care during her final weeks.

Donations can be made to the American Heart Association or the Harrisonville United Methodist Women.

Graveside services were held  Monday, April 5, 2021 at Orient Cemetery, Harrisonville, Missouri.