John W. Stratton, 87, of Omaha, NE, passed away February 17th, 2020, in Omaha.  He was born December 13, 1932 in San Jose, CA to John and Fern (Stratton) Jepson.  John grew up in the San Francisco Bay area where he began his baseball career.  As a teenager, he played in the 1950 Hearst Sandlot Classic in New York City and met Joe Di Maggio.  His baseball career in the minor leagues took him to Ventura, CA; Eau Claire, WI; Evansville, IN; Jacksonville, FL and Cedar Rapids, IA. After retiring from baseball, John had a lifelong career with the JCPenney company, which eventually brought him to Falls City as the store’s manager.  He shared his love of baseball as a youth coach there, leading the Falls City Elks Midget baseball team in the state tournament.  John’s passion for fishing took him to Wisconsin, Utah, Alaska, Canada, Belize and Christmas Island, to name a few.

On September 22, 1956, John married Janet Helene Caton in Eau Claire, WI. John is survived by his children Kathy and her husband Ken Kottich of Lincoln, NE; Bob and wife Ann (Frederick) Stratton of Omaha, NE; Joyce and husband Pat Lang, Salt Lake City, UT and Jayne Stratton, Lincoln, NE, special friend, Elaine Hansen of Omaha. He is also survived by his grandchildren Ryan and Toyin Kottich (Lincoln), Jon Kottich and Nicole Chmelka (Lincoln), Adam Kottich (Lincoln), Rachel and John Lee (Omaha), Zach Stratton (Springfield, MO) and great grandchildren Jackson and Olivia Lee (Omaha).   He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, wife and son John. 

In 1949, the “scrappy shortstop” from San Jose, CA, played in the American Legion “Little League World Series” at Omaha’s Municipal Stadium (Rosenblatt Stadium) as a member of the Bill Irwin Post (Oakland, CA) Little League Team.  He was the shortstop in a triple play that helped secure victory in the title game.  It seems fitting that his life led him back to Omaha where he eventually crossed home plate, for the last time. Of all the wonderful experiences John had during his lifetime, his family was always first. As he told his grandkids after their games: “Number (jersey number) on your scorecard, number one in my heart.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 21, 2020 at 10:30 AM at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Interment will be in Falls City Catholic Cemetery.

A Parish Rosary will be recited on Thursday, 7:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home with family receive friends afterwards.