James Strysko

James “Jim” Wesley Strysko, selfless father and disciple of Christ, passed away on December 30th 2024 at the age of 74.

The grandson of Polish immigrants, Jim was born to parents Carroll and Stella Strysko in Montague Massachusetts, where he excelled in woodworking, art, and athletics and graduated from Turners Falls High School. He entered University of Massachusetts as a History major, but after the tragic loss of his brother, Jim hitchhiked across country, finding himself in Missoula Montana where he gave his life to Christ and met Brenda “Cookie” Palmer at Christian Life Center (CLC).

They married in 1980 and shared a life of faith, raising three children: David, Jonathan, and Christiana. Jim’s ministry spanned decades and continents. After serving on staff at CLC, he planted an Assemblies of God church in Massachusetts, working at a lumber yard while transforming a liquor store into a sanctuary for families, immigrants, and students from around the world.

In 2003, Jim and Brenda moved to Zimbabwe as missionaries, where they discipled pastors and cared for families amidst political turmoil and the peak of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Returning to the U.S. in 2011, Jim pastored at Whetstone Chapel in Vermont before retiring in 2019 to the Flathead Reservation in Montana, home of the Bitterroot Salish, Upper Pend d’Oreille, and Kootenai tribes. 

He remained active in ministry at New Life Church in Polson until his death from cancer.

A life defined by service and faith, Jim leaves behind a legacy of discipleship, hospitality, and unwavering love.

He is survived by his wife, their children and their spouses (Elizabeth Strysko, Colleen Strysko, and Jonathan Heywood), his brother and sister (Richard Strysko and Janet McFarlane), seven grandchildren (Davidson, Alexander, Nissi-Marie, Lily-James, Isabel-Susan, Hadassah-Mae, and Benaiah), and countless lives he touched through his life and ministry.

A funeral will be held at New Life Church in Polson on January 4th, 2025 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Made to Breathe (madetobreathe.org), a non-profit Jim founded to support projects promoting emotional resilience and spiritual healing locally and around the world.

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