A native of Plant City, Florida, William George Strednak, Jr. was a man of many names. Bill- aka Papa, Dad, Billy Boy, WG, Wood Glue Strednak, Grandpa Bill, "call me anything you want, just don't call me late for dinner." Bill loved live music to his core; his spirit was music personified.

The soundtrack of his life ranged from Chicago to Steely Dan, the Beatles to Alison Kraus, Kenny Rogers to Kenny Rankin, Lyle Lovett to George Michael, BB King to Les Miserables. From his first solo as a child, singing "He's got the whole world in his hands" to his occasional, soulful ballads of "The Thrill is Gone" with his pals on stage during his retirement years, his voice was treasured by all lucky enough to hear him sing. He especially loved harmony, and just like his momma- country singer Ethel Johnson- Bill enjoyed "filling in what's left" in any three- or four-part harmony scenario. He adored his south Florida "music friends," as he called them, with whom he listened to a different live band nearly every night of the week for years, dancing the nights away.

With an ear for music and the incredible salesman-ability of remembering the names of everyone he ever just met, his children absolutely adored that he could not, for the life of him, remember lyrics to songs. Without a song sheet in front of him, every song became "dooby dooby doo," but you'd better believe that the pitch and musicality of those "dooby doos" were always on point. His sense of humor shone brightly even during his hardest seasons in life, thanks to his Rodney Dangerfield impressions and endless supply of dad jokes.

A lifelong Miami Dolphins fan, he exemplified the meaning of the word "loyal." In moments of team victory, but also through seasons of team challenges, he enthusiastically watched, cheered for, and talked with everyone who'd care to listen about his beloved football team. He did not ever abandon them, even when it might have been easy to do so.

Bill was generous to his core. Thrifty in his own life, he believed that giving was a true joy, especially when it came to caring for those he loved and those in society who take care of other people. He believed strongly in always tipping servers at minimum twenty percent, spending inordinate amounts of money on his children's sound systems (whether they understood how to operate them or not), or making sure that his grandkids had swimming lessons or a Christmas present to cherish and remember. He did his best to love and he believed in the power of fun to connect people. A day at Disney World with Bill Strednak was more magical than the Magic Kingdom itself as he would request his photo be taken with every single character, all while plotting and planning to make the most of Disney's early fast pass system to achieve the greatest number of rides on the Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Splash Mountain. It seems only fitting that a man who dearly loved every roller coaster with "mountain" in the title would ask his children to gather at Grandfather Mountain to honor his life together.

"Go rest high on the mountain," Papa. Let Vince Gill sing you on your way into the loving arms of God. Know that we carry your music within us and that just like God, we will never, ever let you go.

Bill is survived by his sister, Carol Ryan, of Plant City, FL; his daughter, Jeni Melinda Strednak of Elizabethtown, KY, and grandson, Landon Oreabean; his son, William Benjamin Strednak, and daughter-in-law, Ashley Strednak, of Stillwater, OK, and grandchildren Phoenix, Brooke, Aiden, Tucker, and Brynley; and his daughter, Katie Ann Strednak Singer, and son-in-law, Scott Strednak Singer, of Reston, VA.

A memorial of live music will be scheduled in Pompano Beach area for later in 2024 when it is no longer cold enough to "freeze your bippy off," as Bill would say, or have to duck falling iguanas. The thrill may be gone, but his spirit is alive and kicking in each of us.

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to make a donation to a local charity of your choice that gives children access to music lessons or guitars. Listen to Colm Wilkinson sing "Bring Him Home" (from Les Mis) as you make a gift or say a prayer of thanks to God for William George Strednak, Jr.
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His children cherish his southern wisdom sayings and metaphorical flair, so in honor of Bill, feel free to use any of the following phrases as you talk with someone you love today:
"You're burnin' daylight!"
"Go, Dolphins!"

"Well, mercy buckets!"
"You're moving slower than molasses going uphill in winter."
"I love you thiiiiiiiiiiis (open your arms as wide as humanly possible) much."