Roll Call Tribute

Published in The Beaumont Enterprise on September 8, 2012

Reverend Joseph L. "Father Joe" Stratman Jr.
Rev. Joseph L. Stratman, Jr., 61, passed away in the early morning hours of September 7, 2012. He was born in Galveston on June 14, 1951, to Joseph L. and Elizabeth Doyle Stratman. He was ordained a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Beaumont on April 16, 1977, by Bishop Warren Boudreaux. Father Joe has served at Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Joseph in Beaumont, St. Maurice in Mauriceville, and Our Lady of Sorrows in China, TX. He also served as chaplain for Knights of Columbus, Council 5035, at Our Lady of Assumption. Father Joe attended Our Lady of Fatima School and Kirwin, and graduated from Texas City High School in 1969. Although he attended Texas A&M for only one year before answering the call to the priesthood, that was enough to put the Aggie spirit into his heart permanently. He received his BA in Theology from University of St. Thomas and his MA from St. Mary's Seminary in Houston. Father Joe was preceded in death by his father and his sister, Judy Stratman. He is survived by
his mother, Betty Stratman of Texas City; sister, Mary Dickson and her husband, Kyle of Texas City; sister, Sharon Stratman of Texas City; nieces, Victoria Dickson of Huntington Beach, CA, Lauren Smith of Texas City, Brigid Smith of Houston, and Katie Smith of Webster; and nephew, Kyle Dickson, Jr., of Golden, CO. He also leaves behind his beloved caretakers, Jennifer Johnson, Kimberly Lewis, Jnika Thorn, Eboni Grimes, and Jessica Solomon. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., Sunday, September 9, 2012, with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m., led by Deacon Joe Hensley at Emken Linton Funeral Home in Texas City. A Funeral Mass will take place Monday September 10, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church in Texas City, Bishop Curtis J. Guillory officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Dickinson, TX. Pallbearers will be members of Knights of Columbus, Council 5035. Honorary pallbearers will be Pat Doyle, Rick Doyle, Chris Doyle, and Kyle Dickson, Jr. In lieu of flowers, Father Joe requested that donations be made to Holy Family Retreat Center, 9920 N Major Dr., Beaumont, TX 77713-7618. Funeral arrangements by Emken-Linton, Texas City.