Lee Thomas Strozinsky, age 91, of Onalaska, WI, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Tomah VA Medical Center. He was born December 19, 1934, to Mildred (Niebuhr) and Irvine Strozinsky in Tomah, WI. Lee graduated from Tomah High School in the Class of 1952 and started his passion for working in pharmaceutical field by working for Steele Drug Store assisting with inventory control and pharmacy support.
After high school Lee attended UW Madison School of Pre-Pharmacy however, this was short lived as he then enlisted in the United States Navy. His Naval career started with the position of Petty Officer, US Navy Active Duty on the USS Norfolk DL-1 as a legal and administrative assistant. He was promoted to Petty Officer Second Class in less than two years. His duties included all legal and secret correspondence for the ship’s captain and the Naval Administrative Office.
After being honorably discharged, Lee started his pharmaceutical career with Spence McCord Wholesale Drug Co. of La Crosse, WI. During his time with Spence McCord, Lee created and developed a new Pharmaceutical-Physician Supply Division for the company. Lee was also responsible for physician detailing of private label pharmaceutical products and expanding the medical supply product category. Lee also developed a market strategy to expand product development and sales coverage for four divisions including La Crosse, Mankato, Green Bay, Madison and Fort Meyers, FL.
On December 26, 1960, Lee married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy (Pelz) at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tomah, WI. In 1974, Lee’s career with Spence McCord found him being named Division General Manager and his leadership resulted in top performances for the company from 1974-1980. In 1980, Spence McCord/General Medical sold to Whittaker Corporation where Lee continued his role as General Manager and in 1985 Whittaker sold to FoxMeyer Wholesale Drug Company where Lee was offered and accepted the Division Manager position of which he remained until his retirement in 1996. For those of you who knew Lee, retirement did not last very long. He missed his connection with his pharmaceutical friends and family, so his retirement years included driving as a courier for Gundersen Health System. His position as a courier was supposed to be part-time, however, his motto of “You Call – I Haul” found him working whenever the need arose.
Lee’s passion outside of his pharmaceutical career included travel and spending time with his wife, Dorothy for over 65 years. Their favorite spot to visit was St. Pete’s Beach, FL while making many friends at the Bon-Aire Resort and visiting all the local restaurants and eateries. Lee also enjoyed laminating many memories of his friends, children and grandchildren. If there was an article in the local paper that included someone he knew along with their many accomplishments, they would eventually receive a laminated and personally decorated copy.
Lee is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and children, Renae Holthaus, Laura Fugina (Mark), Lynn Stalsberg (Terry), and Scott Strozinsky (Jenny Bielefeldt). He is also a proud grandfather to 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Hollis, son-in-law, Jay Holthaus and great granddaughter, Riley Ann Albitz.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah. Family and friends are invited for visitation from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home on Friday. Online condolences may be offered www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com
Lee wanted everyone to know that he was very proud of his 14 years of active Navy duty which included Ready Reserve and active Navy Reserve service. Lee’s family would like to thank the staff of the Tomah VA Medical Center for their care and compassion during Lee’s journey home. Memorials are requested by the family to be directed to Gundersen Medical Foundation for Cardiac Research.
Torkelson Funeral Home
