November 24, 1935 - December 7, 2023
Kennard Paul Strom was born in Portland, Maine on November 24, 1935, to Elliott and Helen Strom. He passed into his Savior’s presence on December 7, 2023, in Enid, OK. Ken is survived by his wife of 62 years, Donna, of Enid, brother Sidney of Norway, ME, son Elliott and wife Nicole of Thrall, TX, daughter Pam and husband Brian Isaac of Enid, OK, grandchildren Amber (Isaac) Frailey of Broken Arrow, OK, Nathan Isaac of Enid, OK, Michelle Strom of Thrall, TX, and Summer Strom of Thrall, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Quentin Strom, and daughter Alicia Strom.
After graduating from high school, Ken earned a degree in Business Administration from Portland University, and then joined the US Army, where he eventually served in Korea. After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to Maine where he and Donna were married. He began a 27-year career with Gulf Oil and later BP Oil, scheduling oil transports and barges.
Ken and Donna’s first daughter Alicia and son Elliott were born in Maine. A couple of years later, Ken was transferred to Houston, TX, where their daughter Pamela was born.
While in Houston, Alicia at age 10 asked why they didn’t go to church. As a result, they began attending Spring Branch Community Church, where the whole family accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Ken became a leader in the church and in Christian Service Brigade (CSB), an organization he served for 30 years. After his retirement from BP Oil, he and Donna served as camp directors for Wilderness Ridge in Smithville, TX, a camp associated with CSB. He retired from this position and began his third “career” along with Donna as leaders with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), where they served in after school programs until his final retirement in 2020. In early 2020, they moved to Golden Oaks Retirement Village in Enid, OK.
In Enid, Ken and Donna soon joined Emmanuel Baptist Church where they served as volunteers in the children’s and Pacific Islanders ministries until just prior to Ken’s passing. Ken loved his family and placed importance on their spiritual well-being. His strong desire was for people to come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. One of his favorite Scripture passages, which they taught the children in CEF, was I Corinthians 15:3-4 (NASB95), “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Funeral service for Ken Strom will be Monday, December 11, 2023 at 10:00 am in Emmanuel Baptist Church with Pastor Wade Burleson officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors by U.S. Army. Visitation with the family will be Sunday, 2:00 to 3:00 pm at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home.
Condolences can be made to the family online at Andersonburris.com. Honored to be recognized nationally, the past 6 years, for the Pursuit of Excellence award. Because family matters, let us take care of yours. We are proud to own the only crematory in Garfield county and ensure your loved one receives the care and respect they deserve while never leaving our care. Visit 3002 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-2700.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
A United Methodist Retirement Community
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Enid's Only Faith-based, Not-For-Profit, Complete Continuous Care Community. Including Long Term Care, Skilled Nursing, Memory Care, Assisted Living, Independent Living Apartments and Townhomes.
