Peter “Chip” Francis Strait, 77, of Willow Springs, Missouri, and formerly of Perry died Nov. 18, 2022, at the Ozark Medical Center in West Plains, Missouri, of a heart attack.
Pete was born May 22, 1945, in Liverpool, England, the son of Francis and Marie (Holden) Strait.
He grew up in Perry and graduated from Perry High School in 1963.
Pete served in the U.S. Army from Feb. 4, 1964, to Dec. 15, 1966.
Following his military service, Pete began work in the automobile industry as a finance manager, first in Nebraska and then Kansas before relocating to the Cedar Falls-Waterloo area. He went on to become loan officer and vice president at the First Security State Bank and then transitioned to a career as a real estate agent before retiring in 2008.
Pete married Rozanne Van Pelt on June 1, 1968, in Bayard, Iowa. They had twin sons, Anthony John and William John, born Aug. 17, 1972, in Kansas City.
While in the Army, Pete achieved the rank of sergeant and received specialized armorer training. This led to a lifelong interest in firearms, which he pursued through his gunsmithing hobby. He also enjoyed metalworking and was a skilled welder.
His hobbies allowed him to express his creativity, which expanded to include stained glass work and custom pen making.
He is survived by his wife, Rozanne; and sons (and their spouses), Anthony (Jana) and William (Tammy); four grandchildren, Drake, Saxon, Sage and Rowan; brothers (and their spouses), Tom (Mary), Steve (Pat), Greg (Dee), Chris (Tami), Brian (Lisa) and James (Rebecca); sister, Teresa Carmichael, and her spouse, Jim; brothers-in-law, Ron, Greg (his spouse, Brenda) and Rich Van Pelt; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Burial services will be held at St. Mary Cemetery in Jamaica, Iowa, on a date to be determined.
