Rev. Thomas F. Stratman

Rev. Thomas F. Stratman, 97, a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport, died Saturday, August 19, 2023 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. 

Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial for Father Stratman will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport.  Burial will be in the Priest’s Circle at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, next to his brother, Fr. William Stratman.  Visitation will be held Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass in the gathering space of the Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Cathedral or Priest’s Aid Society.  Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.  

Thomas F. Stratman was born on December 20, 1925 in Burlington, Iowa, a son of Fred B. and Elma (Miller) Stratman.  He entered the seminary at age 17 with the blessing of Bishop Henry Rohlman of the Davenport Diocese. It was during World War II, when St. Ambrose College dorms in Davenport were being used by the Navy. So Fr. Stratman studied at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa and graduated from Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri in 1950.   He was ordained at Sacred Heart Cathedral on May 6, 1950 by Bishop Ralph Hayes.

Fr. Stratman served his ministry for over 73 years.  He retired from active ministry in 1996, but continued ministry at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport and then at St. Andrew Parish in Blue Grass until 2008.  He also served as a proofreader for The Catholic Messenger in addition to other volunteer activities.

When active he enjoyed playing golf and exercising.

Fr. Stratman is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, John and Betty Stratman, Bettendorf; nieces and nephews: Thomas (Veronica) Stratman, Daniel (LiAnn) Stratman, James, Robert, and Mary Margaret Stratman, Anne (Michael) Dunbar, Joseph (Allison Rice) Stratman, Karl (Jennifer) Stratman, and William (Jennifer) Stratman, and several great nieces and nephews.

In addition to his brother, Rev. William Stratman, he was preceded in death by his parents a brother and sister-in-law, Urban (Philonese) Stratman, niece, Joan Fennelly, and nephew, Kenneth Stratman.  May they rest in peace.