SILT — David A. Strouse, a Vietnam Army Veteran and brick & stone mason, went to his Higher Power on Monday, June 5, 2017, with his family at his side.

Memorial services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, June 17, 2017, at the New Hope Church in New Castle. His cremated remains will be placed in the columbarium at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, Grand Junction, with full military honors at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, June 19, 2017. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in his name to Epic Experience at epicexperience.org. Condolences may be left at brownscremationservice.com.

David was born June 2, 1951, in Denver, the son of Lyle and Leona M. (Willis) Strouse. He was raised in Colorado and attended school at New Castle. Dave left high school to join the Army in November of 1968. He served 2 years in Vietnam returning to New Castle in 1971. In 2009, at the age of 58, Dave returned to school to receive his High School Equivalency Diploma.

Dave married Kristie Steimel in May 1980. They had two sons, Lyle David and Jacob Lee. They were later divorced. Dave worked as a brick and stone mason in the Roaring Fork Valley for his brother at Strouse Masonry and others for many years. He found Alcoholics Anonymous on July 28, 1982. That was a turning point in his life. He helped hundreds work the program of recovery and changed many lives forever. Dave married the love of his life and best friend, Cheryl Renee (Ford) Shannon on May 25, 1985. They lived in Glenwood Springs for several years and then made their home in Silt. He retired a few years ago because of health problems, but never stopped helping in the A.A. community. David loved to spend time riding his motorcycle, county western dancing, sitting in his hot tub, and most of all talking to others about the AA program.

Survivors include his wife, Cheryl, of the home; sons, Lyle (Rikki) of Lake St. Augustine, Florida, Jacob (Allison) of Pike Road, Alabama; brothers, Bill (Janie) of New Castle, Steve (Gloria) of Rifle, Marvin (Shirley) of Potlatch, Idaho; granddaughter Ali Marie, and grandson Jacob Allen. He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Clair, Ronald, and Kenneth.