Joel Karnick
Corey James Strand, Deerfield/Park Falls
Corey James Strand, age 55, was welcomed into the afterlife with open arms by his loving parents on Monday, December 30, 2024. Corey was surrounded by his family when he passed away peacefully at Marshfield Medical Center of Park Falls after a courageous battle with cancer.
Corey was born on December 16, 1969, the youngest child to Jim and Betty Strand. He lost vision in both eyes by the age of two due to retinoblastoma. Corey graduated from the Wisconsin School for the Visually Impaired in 1991. He spent the majority of his life with his family in Deerfield, WI. After moving up to the Northwoods in 2022, Corey quickly felt at home under the generous care of Wendy and Ron, as well as at the Red Apple Center in Phillips where Corey enjoyed playing games and going on many excursions with his friends and the staff. There were two things Corey loved more than anything else in the world: his family and country music. Corey was always surrounded by his family. He greatly enjoyed taking car rides with Mom and Dad to look for turkeys and deer, taking pontoon rides on Corey’s Cruiser, going fishing, playing dice, Bingo and card games, and even driving around on ATVs with his family. Corey loved traveling to the family cottage in Phillips, to Nashville, to Graceland, to Key West and even just down the road from Ron and Wendy’s to Crane Chase. Corey was known to many as “Corey Cash” for the entertaining karaoke performances of his favorite musician, Johnny Cash. He was always eager to sing his favorite songs with family, friends and strangers wherever he went. Corey also moonlighted as captain of the houseboat on a family trip to Minnesota. Despite the many health challenges Corey faced in his life, he was always smiling, laughing or singing–sometimes all at once. He faced every obstacle with a positive attitude, and without a single complaint. Corey was a friend to everyone he met; he was kind, outgoing and always ready for the next adventure.
Although we will all miss him dearly, we are comforted in knowing that Corey is now free from the pain of his earthly body. He has been reunited in the afterlife with Mom and Dad, finally able to see the deer and turkeys they’ve been telling him about all these years.
Corey is survived by his siblings: Wendy (Ron) Hommen, Lori (John) Wedeward, Becka (George) Zeimet, and Scott Strand; 13 nieces and nephews: Kristin (Matt) Lemke, Stephanie (Ben) Shanks, and Daniel Hommen, Sarah (Marcus) Ruh, Michael (Katie) Wedeward, and Luke, Amanda, Emily, Olivia, Jake, Daniel, Hannah and Gracie Zeimet; 13 great nieces and nephews: Kain, Koal, Autumn, Maddie, Cyrus, Aubrey, Jaxon, Asher, Walker, Leighton, Ava, Mya and Banks; and Uncle Bill (Donna) Strand.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Betty.
In life, we loved you dearly; in death, we love you still. In our hearts you hold a place, no one else will ever fill.
Our family would especially like to thank the nursing staff, EMS and Hospice staff for their care and kindness in Corey’s final days; Corey’s friends and the staff at the Red Apple Center for the joy and enrichment they shared with him; Corey’s friends back home and in the Northwoods. We are so glad that we were able to share such a special soul with so many people.
A private service will be held for Corey by his family, with a Celebration of Corey Cash to be held in the Spring.
In lieu of flowers, we encourage donations to the Red Apple Center (598 Peterson Drive, Phillips, WI 54555) in Corey’s name.
Birch Street Funeral Service is assisting the family..
