Reuben Emil Strelow

Cdr. Reuben Emil Strelow passed away August 9, 2014 in Lake Forest Nursing Center near Laguna Woods, CA, his home for 35 years.
Reuben was born on September 14, 1919 at Regina, Wisconsin to Otto Carl Strelow and Emma Bertha Loehrl. He was the fifth of 11 children. He attended one year at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and was later accepted into the Naval Academy. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1942 (the class of 1943.) Upon graduation, he married Rachel Adeline Syvertson, also a native of Wisconsin. Reuben served heroically with distinction as a naval officer during World War II earning two bronze stars among other commendations. After the war he graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School and was an electronics engineer in the Navy until 1962. Reuben had a second career at Rockwell International in Downey, CA working on the Apollo Moon Landing Program and the Space Shuttle.
Reuben's wife, Rachel, passed away in 1974. In 1979 he married Betty Frances Reigart. In retirement Reuben and Betty enjoyed many vacations in their 5th wheel trailer touring the United States and attending annual family reunions in Wisconsin.
Reuben is survived by his wife, Betty; daughter, Pamela (Joe) Massaglia; step daughter, Kathy (Stan) Salter; step son, Robert Holsinger; four grandchildren, John (Becky) Massaglia, Miriam (David) Rothas, Kristen (Ryan) Elssworth, Kathryn Salter; 13 great-grandchildren; and four sisters. Reuben is preceded in death by his parents and six brothers.
A viewing will be held at Forest Lawn Mortuary in Cypress on Friday, August 15, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Laguna Woods at 11:30 AM on Saturday, August 16, 2014.
In Reuben's memory, the family requests donations in his name to be sent to the Lutheran Church of the Cross, 24231 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92637 or to Hospice of the West, 505 N. Euclid Street, Suite 480, Anaheim, CA 92801.