ROSE
JEANNE MOLLENDORF graduated from Clyde Central School in 1963. She
was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, but came to Clyde at the age of 5. She
has a long history of doing secretarial work in schools and
libraries. She started out working in the Clyde Central School
Library and the Galen Free Library, then moving to Rochester she
worked at the Rundel Library in the Cataloging Department. While
living and working in Rochester, she met Chris Strakal. They were
married in 1970 and moved to Chris’ home state of Montana for two
years. Two of their five children were born there (Jennifer and
Jason). The Strakals then moved to Clyde, where Jessica and the
twins, Joseph and John, were born. When her twins entered
kindergarten, she resumed work at the Clyde Savannah Schools until
2006 when she retired. Rose Jeanne and Chris now have five
grandchildren.
When
asked about special events in her life, Rose Jeanne mentioned, beside
her children and family, that she enjoys traveling. She and Chris
have been to Europe a number of times and have been to many parts of
the United States, including Colorado, New Orleans, the Grand Canyon,
Georgia and Seattle. A favorite of their many trips to Montana
included a two day Amtrak train journey with all five of their
children from Rochester to Glacier National Park in Montana.
She
is remembered at the Clyde-Savannah School District for her
employment at each of the district school buildings. Many former
students can recall when she and Colleen Volpe were co-directors of
the Drama Club.
Rose
Jeanne does not think she should be defined by her travels or her
jobs. She is proud of growing up in Clyde and spending most of her
life here. God, family and community are most important in her life.