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Community Corner

Strang Funeral: Part Of Grayslake's History

Three generations of the Strang family helped build one of the longest running businesses in Grayslake.

Part of a series of articles about the Strang Funeral Chapel, one of the oldest businesses in Grayslake. The Strang family has roots in Grayslake that go back 113 years.

Earn their trust and faith.

That is the motto that three generations of the Strang family have followed to provide care and compassion to Grayslake families for 113 years through the

“I feel proud that people have trusted me and feel comfortable with me to handle their most difficult period of time,” said David Strang, a third generation family member who has operated the business since 1953.

His grandfather, George E. Strang, a cabinet maker by trade, began Strang Furniture and Undertaking in 1898 to provide funeral services in private homes and churches.

His sons Leland and Harold Strang followed in their father’s footsteps. Leland moved to Antioch and opened Strang Funeral Home in 1912, independent of his father’s operation. Harold, who became an embalmer and funeral director, was given the opportunity to take over his father’s business.

To keep up with the needs of Lake County and changing times, George bought land and constructed a building on Center Street in downtown Grayslake. The main level became the Strang Funeral Chapel, and Harold and his family lived on the upper floor, where David Strang and his sister and his brother lived. Harold operated the funeral chapel on Center Street for 34 years.

“For much of his life, David has literally lived above or next door to his to work,” said Dave Oberg, executive director of the Grayslake Historical Society.

David, a Grayslake Community High School graduate, later served four years in the United States Army as a paratrooper. Although he first dreamed to live somewhere other than Grayslake, David said he quickly realized how special Grayslake was and returned home. After earning his license in 1954, he became the third generation of his family to run the funeral chapel.

In 1954, David designed and had built the current facility for . The space was completed in 1958.

David has continued to help his family business grow by purchasing a crematorium in 1996 and add a second chapel to the Belvidere Road facility in 1999 to meet the families’ expanding needs.

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CORRECTION: A previous version of the story incorrectly stated how many siblings David Strang had. The article has been corrected to state that he had one sister and one brother. Patch regrets the error.

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