MOHAWK - Clarence J. Strife Jack age 79 formerly of Fisher Avenue and currently of 29th Avenue NE, Hickory, NC, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at Hospice of Catawba Valley, Hickory, NC. He was born on March 4, 1929 in New Breman, son of the late Clarence J. and Arlene Campany Strife. Jack was raised and educated in Old Forge. He furthered his education graduating from Leicester College receiving a MA and BS Degree in Accounting. After college he entered the U.S. Army serving during the Korean War and was honorably discharged on October 29, 1952 attaining the rank of Sergeant. On November 29, 1952 he was united in marriage with the former Elsie Gonzalez in Puerto Rico. They shared a loving and devoted union of forty-seven years until her passing on April 18 2000. Mr. Strife was employed by the General Electric Company in the Radio Division, first in Utica and in later years Syracuse. He retired in 1987 after thirty-five years of dedicated service. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, Mohawk, the Knights of Columbus, the Mohawk Kiwanis Club, Crowley-Barnum American Legion Post #25, Mohawk and Exempt Firemen for the Town of Webb. Jack especially enjoyed the outdoors and his favorite sport golfing. All that knew him will remember his easy going manner and warm smile. He will be greatly missed. Surviving are his daughter Elsa and her husband Wendell Crim of Conover, NC, four sons and their wives Clarence C.J., III and Kathryn Strife of Ballston Spa, Thomas and LeeAnn Strife of Rome, Jeffrey and Valerie Strife of Mohawk, Robert and Aimee Strife of York, SC, three sisters, Helen Codega of Sarasota, FL, Mary Hunkeler and her husband Ernst of Cove Creek, AZ, Eleanor Conboy of Sunset Beach, NC, a brother-in-law Larry Harjung of Whitesboro, a brother-in-law and sister-in-law Miguel and Sylvia Cancio of Puerto Rico, a sister-in-law, Lillien Gonzalez of Miami, FL, eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Besides his parents and wife Elsie he was preceded in death by a sister Virginia Harjung and two brothers-in-law Mike Codega and Ted Conboy. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, Mohawk with the Reverend Mark Cunningham, Sacramental Minister and Sister Mary Jo Tallman, Parish Life Director officiating. Committal with military honors will take place in Mohawk Cemetery. The family will be present to receive relatives and friends in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street, Herkimer, on Sunday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to Hospice of Catawba Valley, Hickory, NC or Blessed Sacrament Church, Mohawk. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Members of Crowley-Barnum American Legion Post #25 will meet at the funeral home on Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. to conduct ritualistic services.