Harold Stralser, veteran retail exec
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, May 3, 2004
LAS VEGAS — LAS VEGAS— Industry veteran Harold Stralser, who held a senior executive position at Levitz and leading roles with other furniture retailers, has died. He was 83.
Stralser got his start in the industry in 1945 at Triangle Furniture in Detroit. He moved into a leadership role in 1959 when he was named general manager of Mehagian's in Phoenix, and later held the same post at American Furniture Group in El Paso, Texas, and the former American Furniture Co. in Denver.
Throughout the 1970s, he was involved in the growth of Levitz as a senior vice president and member of its board. He also was active in industry associations.
For the past decade, Stralser was a consultant, most recently to Walker Furniture in Las Vegas, which operates a main store, an outlet store, a Discount Desks store and 11 Best Mattress stores.
Before joining the industry, Stralser left college and became a flight navigator and captain in the U.S. Air Force. He flew missions over Europe during World War II and won several medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross.
He is survived by his wife, Deanne Alterwitz-Stralser, chairman of Walker, and her children and Walker leaders Larry, Darryl, Linda and Aimee Alterwitz, and their 10 children. Stralser has two children — Steven Stralser and Carol Heiser — five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, all from a previous marriage.
Donations in his name may be made to the Congregation Ner Tamid Building Fund, 2761 Emerson Ave., Las Vegas, Nev. 89121, or to the Jewish National Fund at (888) jnf-0099 or www.jnf.org.
