Joe Strough loved to garden. His concord grapes formed a beautiful archway with two swings underneath that his grandchildren loved. His fruit trees were always full along with a large vegatable garden, but his pride and joy were his roses. Large archways and trellises of beautiful red climbers along with a garden of many varieties of tee roses.

He had a second home on Lake McCoy and also enjoyed vacationing in Florida.

He lived in Indianapolis for more than 50 years and served in WWI after lying about his age in order to get in. He then worked in the metal lathing trade for nearly 40 years, and was married 50 years to Elva Marie Oliver.

He had 5 children, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.