Robert W. Stramm, Jr., a former chief of the Stanford Fire Company, died on April 4. He was 81.
Stramm was born on Feb. 11, 1945, in Brooklyn, to Robert and Jessie (Young) Stramm. After graduating from Carmel School in 1964, he served three years in the U.S. Navy.
He married Sharon LaForge on Feb. 6, 1971. She survives him.
Stramm worked as a heavy equipment operator for many years with Clove Excavators in Poughquag, where he was nicknamed Cactus. Stramm started his firefighting career in the Navy and then joined the Lake Carmel Fire Department, and later joined the Union Vale Fire Dept., where he was the assistant chief. In 1993, he joined the Stanford Fire Company, where he served for 33 years in various roles including chief.
Besides his wife, Stramm is survived by four daughters: Edith Rickens of Amenia; Sharon (Shawn Morrison) Stramm of Millerton; Becky LeClaire of Malone, N.Y.; and Bobbie Jo Kangas of Wappingers; seven grandchildren: Zackery (Gwen) Stramm; Kristen (Grant) Snyder, Oby
LeClaire, Jeremy LeClaire, Megan Smith, Peyton Kangas, and Adam Kangas; two great
grandsons: Connor Stramm and Trenton Stramm, and a great granddaughter, Adiline Smith of
Malone, N.Y. He is also survived by two sisters: Jean Schnaudigel and Jessie (Bob) Wenisch and
many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visiting hours will be on April 10 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Peck & Peck Funeral Homes, 7749 S.
Main St., Pine Plains. A funeral service will held at 10 a.m. on April 11 at the funeral home.
Interment will be at Stanford Cemetery, Stanfordville. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that
donations be made to the Stanford Fire Company, 6096 Route 82, Stanfordville, N.Y. 12581