Leo Henry Strittmather

Leo Henry Strittmather, 90, of Vermilion, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, September 25, 2025, following a lengthy illness.

He was born November 17, 1934, in Pittsburgh, PA. Leo graduated from Belmont High School in 1954, where he played soccer, baseball, and basketball, earning a spot on the Allegheny County Basketball All-Star Team. Following graduation, he proudly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He spent his military years on a ship in the Mediterranean Sea and in Cuba, completing his military service with the rank of Sergeant.

After leaving the Marines, Leo moved to Vermilion, where he lived with his Uncle Elmer’s family and began a plumbing apprenticeship with Strittmather and Sons Plumbing Co. He soon met and married Donnagene Hall, and the couple moved to Belmont, NY, where they started their own plumbing business. Due to the recession and poor economic conditions in Belmont, they returned to Vermilion, where Leo began working for the City of Vermilion. Over the years, he became a certified and licensed water plant operator and later served as Superintendent of Utilities, retiring in 1993 after 33 years of dedicated service.

Leo was a longtime member of St. Mary Catholic Parish in Vermilion and AMVETS Post #22. He loved traveling to warmer destinations with his wife, Donna, during the winter months and enjoyed playing golf in and around Vermilion during the summer.

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Donna (nee Hall) Strittmather; children, Elane (Jack) Mattmuller of Vermilion, Sue (Tim) Thewes of Northville, MI, and David (Randi) Strittmather of Vermilion; grandchildren, John, Katharine, Amanda, Mitchell, Cody, Cira, Shea, T.J., and Allec; 17 great-grandchildren with two more on the way; and his brother, Albert Strittmather of Belmont, NY.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo A. and Catherine (nee Perry) Strittmather; son, Michael Strittmather; and sister, Dorothy A. Schmelzer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 731 Exchange Street, Vermilion, OH 44089 (please meet at the church). Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery, where military honors will be presented.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Michael Strittmather/Barry Lima Memorial Scholarship, c/o Sons of AMVETS, 1517 State Route 60, Vermilion, OH 44089.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.riddlefuneralhome.com

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