Cellus Fred Stratman, of Vienna, was born on May 25, 1926, near Vienna, in Maries County, a son of Bernard Xavier and Emma Teresa (Renkemeyer) Stratman, and departed this life at 1:00 a.m., on Thursday, May 10, 2012, at his residence in Vienna. He had been in failing health for some time and had attained the age of 85 years, 11 months and 14 days

Cellus was united in marriage on July 5, 1952, at Folk, to the former Miss Evelyn Francis Huhn, and to this union, four children were born. He was preceded in death by an infant son in 1957; his father on November 22, 1982; his mother on November 23, 1994; five brothers, Arthur Stratman on March 7, 1951, Paul Stratman on July 29, 1987, Walter Stratman on July 16, 1992, Eugene Stratman on December 31, 1993, and A.J. Stratman on December 29, 2006; two sisters, Rosemary Margaret Stratman on March 13, 2001, and Marcelline Raithel on October 1, 2011; and one niece, Cindy Hilkemeyer in July of 1995.

Cellus was a member of the Visitation Catholic Church, Vienna; a United States Army veteran of World War II; a member of the Argyle Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8045; and a member of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. During his working life, he was the owner and operator of the Stratman Truck Service, Vienna, since 1954; a charter developer and co-owner in 1974 of the South Central Livestock Market, Vienna; and owner of Stratman Enterprises, Vienna. Cellus had purchased his family farm and enjoyed spending time there.

Those left to mourn the passing of Cellus include: His wife, Evelyn Stratman, of the home in Vienna; two sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Nancy Stratman and Donald and Robin Stratman, all of Vienna; one daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Mark Welschmeyer, Southlake, Texas; six grandchildren, Jonathan and Christy Welschmeyer, Keller, Texas; Danielle and Sean Anderson, Frisco, Texas; Erica Stratman and fiancée, Sheldon Boessen, Mary's Home; Elizabeth Stratman, Vienna; Jennifer Stratman and friend, Craig, Vienna; and Tyce Stratman, Vienna; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen and Charles Bocklage, Florissant; and Pat and Tony Wall, Jefferson City; nephews; nieces; and other relatives and friends.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Cellus at 12:30 P.M., on Sunday, May 13, 2012, in the Visitation Catholic Church, Vienna, with the Rev. David Maher officiating. Interment with full military honors will be in the Visitation Cemetery, Vienna, under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., on Saturday, May 12, 2012, with a VFW Memorial Service at 7:30 p.m. and a prayer service following led by the Rev. David Maher, and from11 a.m. to 12 Noon, on Sunday, May 13, 2012, all in the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.

Memorial contributions are suggested by the family to the Visitation Catholic Church and Cemetery or the Vienna Senior Citizens Center with envelopes available at the Vienna Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.