Origins

In the mid-1940s, as World War II was drawing to a close, Lithuanian immigrants David and Mary Strakis made their way to Indianapolis and purchased a farm where they would build a life rooted in hard work, faith, and family.

David and his son Emil worked the land, and when Otto, Herman, and John returned home from military service, they joined the family farming operation. Another son, George, tragically lost his life during the war.

Mary, the steadfast matriarch of the family, managed the home alongside her daughters Martha, Esther—who also served during World War II—Anna, Marie, and Pauline. Together, they helped keep the farm running smoothly and, as family stories suggest, made sure the brothers stayed in line.

Although David passed away in 1946, the Strakis family continued cultivating the land. In the late 1950s or early 1960s, gravel was discovered beneath the once-fertile corn and bean fields. The farmland gradually became a gravel pit, and the resulting lake was named Mary Strakis Lake in honor of the family’s beloved matriarch.

The brothers built the first “Lake House” on the northwest corner of the lake as a home for Mary. After her passing in 1961, her daughter Martha lived there for many years. In time, each of the Strakis siblings received a lot along the lake. Some built homes, while others kept their properties as cherished family gathering places and a means of preserving access to the lake for future generations.

Today, Mary Strakis Lake remains a special place where family and friends gather in fellowship. The original Lake House is now owned by Gary Strakis, the son of Otto and grandson of David and Mary. Many of the other homes and lots surrounding the lake also remain in the hands of Strakis family members.

More than a lake, it is a lasting testament to the perseverance, sacrifice, hospitality, and enduring family spirit of David and Mary Strakis—and to the legacy of the matriarch whose name it proudly bears.