Michael J. Strief, 49, of Cascade, Iowa died Friday, March 29, 2019 at MercyOne Medical Center in Dubuque, Iowa.

Friends and relatives of Mike may call from 2 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 4, 2019 at Reiff Funeral Home in Farley, Iowa, where a prayers service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friends may also call after 9 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home.
Services for Mike will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 5, 2019 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Placid, Iowa with Rev. Michael Schueller presiding. Concelebrating will be Rev. Thomas McDermott. Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Farley, IA.

Michael was born February 17, 1970 in Dubuque, Iowa, son of William “Bill” and Donna (Simon) Strief. He was a 1988 graduate of Western Dubuque High School in Epworth, IA. On September 24, 1994 he was united in marriage to Shawn Kennedy at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Farley, Iowa. He was employed with UPS for 30 years.

Mike was famous on his UPS routes for his brown shorts and chicken legs. No one was a stranger to Mike, he was able to shoot the breeze with everyone. All other days you would find him putzing on the farm with his right hand man, Adam. At family events Mike was a boisterous Euchre player who could play his hand along with everyone else’s. He passed his love for riding horses on to Madison and Grace and was proud of their many accomplishments. Even though his ability to “ride” found him on the ground more often than not. Horse riding is a fabric of their family and those memories will be forever cherished.

He was a member of the Eastern Iowa Horse and Pony Camp, Dubuque County Saddle Club, Tri-State Saddle Club, Teamsters Local #120, the American Paint Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Assoc., American Angus Assoc., the Dubuque County 4-H, IA – MN Chuckwagon Association and Friends of the West Dubuque FFA.

He was also a member of St. John’s Parish in Placid, Iowa and he was involved with the Farley-Epworth Christian Experience Weekend (CEW).

He is survived by his wife, Shawn Strief of Cascade, IA; three children, Madison, Grace and Adam Strief at home; his mother, Donna Strief of Farley, IA; six siblings, Julie Strief of Fenton, MI, Jolene Strief of California, Mark (Lydia) Strief of Bernard, IA, Janda Waters of Cedar Rapids, IA, Jodi (Russell) Kronlage of Epworth, IA and Matt (Kristi) Strief of Farley, IA; a sister-in-law, Christine (Dean) Schrader of Monticello, IA; his father and mother-in-law, Mike and Sue Kennedy of Farley, IA; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dana (Jason) Wegmann and Shelley (Brad) Wilken both of Marion, IA, and Kari (Chris) Smuck of Waterloo, IA; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father, William K. “Bill” Strief on September 26, 2010; a brother, Martin Strief on August 23, 1996.

“Just one more, you know what I’m Sayin.”

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com