Leonard T. Strople, 38, Was Oak Bluffs Native

Leonard (Lenny) T. Strople, age 38, of Tisbury died accidentally on Wednesday, August 25.

He was born in Oak Bluffs on August 24, 1966, a son of Arthur W. Strople and Charlotte Leonard Strople of Vineyard Haven. He lived his whole life on Martha's Vineyard.

Lenny was employed by Troy Maciel & Sons. Previously he worked for many years for Jon Mayhew Welding. He was part of the creative team of Mayhew & Strople that designed many sculptured works of art created from recycled metals. Many of the pieces have been exhibited around the Island and around the country including the Featherstone Gallery in Oak Bluffs. Lenny loved to design the unusual pieces and Jon brought them to life.

Lenny enjoyed his life on Martha's Vineyard. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, metal detecting and studying his treasure maps. His quest was to find the treasure of Blue Rock. Lenny was a member of the Tisbury fire department from 1989 to 2001, working on the hook and ladder truck. He was also a member of the VFW Post, Oak Bluffs. Lenny loved being with his family and friends, especially his old pal, Bill Dias.

Besides his parents, Lenny is survived by his two sons, Steven Geoffrey Strople and Arthur Herbert Duane Strople; one daughter, Jessica C. Strople; sisters and brothers, Paula Strople and her husband, Patrick Ryer, Paul J. Strople, Arthur W. Strople 3rd and his friend, Linda Wallace, and Rosemary Strople Kieffer and her husband, Timothy; one half-brother, Donald Lewis Wager; nieces and nephews, Thomas Colligan, Jennifer Kuehne, Christopher Kuehne, Joey Strople, Elizabeth Strople and Amanda Star Kieffer; his cherished friend, Christine Swift, and aunts and uncles, Ida Churchill, Rosalie (Bid) Bernard, Auntie Cora, Edwin T. Leonard and George Leonard.

Graveside services will be held in Oak Grove Cemetery, Vineyard Haven, on Tuesday, August 31, at 2 p.m. Visiting hours were in the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs on Monday, August 30, from 6 to 8 p.m.

A fund has been set up for the care of Lenny's children. Donations may be sent to Strople Family, P.O. Box 542, Tisbury, MA 02568.