Don't run into many Strenks.

My parents Joseph and (the late) Joan Strenk were raised in Brooklyn NY.  Our family resided in Rhinebeck NY for many years. My sisters and myself all graduated from Rhinebeck Central High School. My brother Larry finished high school in FL.
My late Grandfather was Joseph Ilko Strenk and all I know is what he wrote for my Aunt long ago: "Joseph Ilko Strenk.  Born in Austria Hungary Jan 19-1899. My mother's maiden name Mary Kanya. My father's name Vasil Strenk.  I arrived in New York City with my parents in March 1902 on the Steamship 'Rhein' from Bremen.  I work for the city of N.Y. Pres Boro of Brooklyn.  Since June 20, 1922.  My title is 'Oiler'.  If you need more information let me know.  4-8-58"

I believe the city of origin for my Grandfather was Jarabina, Czechoslovakia.

He did not keep track of his many siblings.  He believed that his family originally settled in Conemaugh PA near Johnstown to work the mines.  Grandpa claimed that the late Sgt. Michael Strank, USMC, of Conemaugh PA is a distant relative of ours who is immortalized on the famous Iwo Jima flagraising monument.  (According to the book, Flags of Our Fathers, by James Bradley, Mike’s original name spelling was Strenk.) My Grandfather’s family later moved to Brooklyn in NYC.  Of note also is that my Great Grandfather met his demise by falling from a NYC subway platform into the path of a train.  Grandpa said he was pushed, Grandma insisted he was drunk.
Drunkenness appears in modern time to be only an adolescent trait in the Strenk families that I know (I can vouch for myself in college).
Grandpa did not know of any murderers or horsethieves in the family.

I was at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy NY and graduated in '77 and '78 with BS and M.Eng in Electric Power Engineering.
Have been in the North Penn area of PA since '78 right outta school.
Married a local girl from Hatfield and have been here so long now, I think of it as home.

My sister Patti (Strenk) Baricelli and her husband Bob have lived and worked in the Rochester NY area and are just now moving to FL.  She and my sister Lynda both are graduates of RIT in Rochester.  Lynda along with sister Mary (Strenk) Elgin and her husband Don, and my brother Larry all live in Boca Raton FL area now.  Sister Veronica (Strenk) Murray lives in Hyde Park, NY.  My Dad lives in FL.

My Grandfather did think he had relations in the Philadelphia area.

Written by Frank Strenk,
9/1/99 updated 7/17/04 http://www.strenk.com