Ingrid Strange passed away peacefully Sunday, March 9, 2025, with her loving husband beside her after a long journey with Alzheimer’s disease.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, March 21, 2025 at Daleville Methodist Church with Rev. Lee Jones officiating and Searcy Funeral Home & Crematory directing. The family will receive friends from 12:30 PM until service time.
Ingrid Erna Berthold was born February 4, 1940, in Eppendorf, Germany, to Hans and Elenore Berthold.
She lost her father when she was just a year old and endured extreme hardships of WWII as a young child, both of which had a profound impact on her life.
She immigrated to the U.S. while still a teenager and later became a naturalized US citizen.
She married Gerald C. Strange in Folkston, Ga., and soon after encouraged Gerald to join the Army as an Army Flight School candidate. Thus began their incredible loving journey together.
Their final Army assignment brought them back to Fort Rucker, Ala., where Gerald retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 4. Having already settled in Daleville, Ala., they continued to raise their youngest daughter, Kirsten. It was also in Daleville where Ingrid opened her first jewelry and gift shop, which she eventually moved to its current location. Ingrid continued to dedicate her life to her family, community, the US Army and the thousands of Soldiers who transitioned through Fort Rucker, now Fort Novosel. The profound impact Ingrid made on her community will be felt for years to come.
Ingrid is survived by her husband Gerald, two daughters, Kirsten Negard (Michael), Enterprise, AL and Uliana McClanahan (Frank), Dothan, AL; five grandsons, Joseph Negard, Atlanta, GA; Patrick Negard, East Hampton, MA; Matthew Negard, Manassas, VA; Ryan McClanahan, Hoover, AL; Aaron McClanahan, Birmingham, AL; 10 great-grandchildren.
