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Elizabeth, CO - Joseph P. Strogen, 92, of Elizabeth, CO, and formerly of Batavia, passed away Sunday, (January 19, 2014) at his daughter’s home , in Colorado. 

Mr. Strogen was born March 19, 1921 in Batavia, a son of the late John and Mary (Meterko) Strogen.

Joe served his country honorably during World War II. 

Mr. Strogen was a former employee of Batavia Metal Products and Doehler-Jarvis in Batavia prior to moving to California in 1963.  There he worked into his 70s as a machinist with Lockheed Martin, GSR Sloan Co., and Flo Control.  In his later years he worked to design and maintain machinery for plastic pipe fittings. 

He greatly enjoyed traveling with his wife, baseball, fishing, and hunting.  He was also an avid reader. 

Joeseph was a member of the Moose Lodge in Batavia and Warsaw, the VFW and the American Legion.

He is the husband of the late Elva (Hyde) Strogen who passed away in January 2004.

Surviving are his children, Paul D Strogen of Daly City, CA, James A. (Virginia) Strogen of Sun Rise Beach, MO, and Mylynne (Wayne) Austgen of Elizabeth, CO; grandchildren, Jeffrey and Darin Strogen of MN, Eric Austgen of Elizabeth, CO, Rachel Hurst of Aurora, CO, Susan Austgen of Elizabeth, CO, and Jim Wolford of PA.  12 great-grandchildren also survive.

Joseph is preceded in death by his siblings, Frank, Jean and Helen.

There will be no prior visitation.  Graveside services will be at 10:00 AM, Saturday, (June 28, 2014) at West Bethany Cemetery, Brown Road, Bethany.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crossroads House, P.O. Box 403, Batavia, NY 14021.

Arrangements were entrusted to the H.E. Turner & Co. Funeral Home, Batavia.   Please leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle at www.bataviafuneralhomes.com.

Ethyl I. Sojda, age 84, of Creek Rd, Batavia, NY, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on April 8th, 2022. Ethyl was born in Batavia as the only daughter of the late Vincent N. and Ruth M. Kirch. She was a life-long resident of Alexander, NY.

After graduating from Alexander Central School, she held various jobs until she married her late husband, John F. Sojda, Jr. in 1961 and raised three children. As a dedicated mother she could be seen braving any weather to watch her children’s sporting events. She returned to work in 1977 and held a number of positions with local companies over the following thirty years. In her last role she was a Loose Ends hostess managing the GCC cafeteria where many folks came to enjoy her kind and pleasant personality and her dedicated work ethic.

Though a long-time crocheter, later in life she became a serious quilter and active in the Batavia Museum Quilt Guild. She produced a number of quilts for family and friends that are still enjoyed daily.

For a number of years, she was also a volunteer with All Babies Cherished. It was not uncommon to see her with her knitting material creating baby hats for the regional hospital system. For many years she was an assistant to John Sojda, Jr. in his role as Alexander Town Justice. Part of her charm and grace was how resiliently and quietly she met life’s challenges—both her own and those of others who knew her.

Ethyl is survived by her sons John and Steve (Barb), her daughter Ann, five grandchildren; Lily Whisman, Jacob (Paige), Stephanie (Patrick) Guarino, Michelle (Andrew) James , and Angela (Martin) Pohl, great-grandchildren; Ezekiel Guarino, Emily and Eli James, Alex, and Maria Pohl. She was preceded by her brother Merlin Kirch and has 4 surviving brothers (Ralph, Arnold, Harold, and Myron), and many nieces and nephews.

Mass at St. Mary's in Batavia at 9:30am Saturday June 25th followed by a graveside service at West Bethany Cemetery. Lunch to follow at her home at

9926 Creek Rd.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alexander Rescue Squad PO Box 336 Alexander, NY 14005 or Homecare & Hospice 29 Liberty St. Suite 6 Batavia, NY 14020. For more information please call (585) 591-1212 or to leave a message of condolence visit www.marleyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements completed by Marley Funeral Home, LLC, 135 Main Street, Attica, NY 14011