Dortha Strack

Dortha Jane Strack, 86, of Cape Girardeau, passed away Saturday, February 3, 2018, at Chateau Girardeau in Cape Girardeau.

Dortha was born December 16, 1931, in Cape Girardeau, to Earl and Evelyn (Hawn) Sachse. After her father died, her mother was remarried to Adolph Borgfield who became her adoptive father.

Dortha was a 1949 graduate of Jackson High School. She and Harold A. Strack were married June 2, 1957, and resided on the family farm on Route W their entire married lives.

Dortha was an active lifelong member of Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau, where she served as a Sunday school teacher and rang the church bell on Sunday mornings. She was a 65-year member of the Kage (FCE) Homemakers Club, and was a longtime election official in the Hanover Precinct. She was employed at Sunny Hill Garden Center for 45-plus years, where she was in charge of packaging seed, assisting in sales, and provided gardening advice on the store’s sponsored radio show.

In 2017, Dortha was recognized for 55 years of 4-H service. She was the longtime Director of 4-H Exhibits at the Southeast Missouri District Fair, creator of Dortha's Camp for Clover Kids, and was inducted as the first member of the Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame. These were just a sprinkling of her many 4-H accomplishments.

Dortha was survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Alan and Lisa Strack of Apopka Florida, Jay and Nancy Strack of San Antonio, Texas, and Jo Wayne and Bonnie Strack of Shawneetown, Missouri; five grandchildren: Nicole, Andrew, Ashley, Belinda and Anthony Strack; her sister Jo Anna Peek; nieces and nephews, Sandy and Kandy Peek, Tammy Slinkard, Vicky Kerby and Jeffrey Strack; and many neighbors and friends. a