Joan C. Strachota-Link, formerly of Porter Beach, passed away in Omaha,
Neb., on April 3, 2010.
She was preceded in death by husbands Frank Strachota and Frederick Link;
parents Helen Radous and Robert Lichtenberger; and sister Marlene DiChiarro.
She is survived by children Kurt (wife Becky) Strachota, Lynn (husband Dave)
Sorich of Omaha, Scott (Lisa) Strachota of Carol Stream, Ill., and Dana
Strachota of Maui, Hawaii; stepson Alfred (Ellen) Link of Boston, Mass.;
step-daughters Nick (Barry) Kilzer of Carmel Valley, Calif. and Antoinette
(Win) Robinson of Charlotte, N.C.; numerous grandchildren; sister Roberta
Shaw; brothers Fred Lichtenberger and Tom Korinek.
Joan attended Steinmeitz High School, where she was a member of the group
“The JUGS” and chosen The Most Athletic Girl her sophomore year. Shortly
after that, her family moved to Lyons, where she attended and graduated from
Morton High School in 1952 where she was crowned Miss Morton and 1st
runner-up for “M” Queen. She was dubbed one of the most elegant swimmers in
high school and shortly after became a member of and traveled with the Sam
Snyder Water Follies of 1954. She also held the title of “Miss Polaroid” and
was selected as the alternate of the “Miss Cicero-Berwyn” Pageant.
In the mid 50’s she was hired as a Stewardess for American Airlines, where
she flew for several years, flying charters for then-Senator John F. Kennedy
and five national baseball teams. After becoming “grounded” she became a
member of the KIWI Club, an association of retired flight attendants.
She met and married the love of her life, Frank Strachota, who was employed
as treasurer of Loyola University. Together they had four children. They
resided in Riverside, Ill., until 1979 when they moved to Omaha, where Frank
took a job at Creighton University. Frank died in 1985 and Joan moved back
to the Chicago area where she met and then married attorney Frederick Link.
The couple moved to Porter. Ater Fred passed away in 2005, she moved back to
Omaha. Family and friends were the cornerstone of her life.