A Family Affair

Teri Strange, a registration specialist at Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital, followed in her father’s footsteps and joined the United States Air Force when she was 23 years old. Teri was assigned to Elemendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska, where her father had been stationed when he was in the service. 

“It was pure coincidence that it happened to be the same base,” Teri said. “There are so many bases, in Alaska and also around the country, where I could have been stationed. But it was Elemendorf, and I grew up right by there. I was 12 when we lived there for my father’s assignment.”

Teri was a senior airman in the Air Force and worked in communications and supply chain on the base. She met her would-be husband on the base, and later in life, their two sons also enlisted. One served in the Air Force and the other in the Army. 

“Both of our sons served in Afghanistan at the same time,” Teri said. “My husband’s father was in the Army, and all of my father’s brothers also served in the military,” Teri said. 

Teri served in the Air Force for four years, from 1983 to 1987. She and her husband eventually moved from Alaska to Colorado. Ultimately, they moved to Wisconsin. She started her job as a registration specialist with the Froedtert & MCW health network in 2014. Teri registers patients for preoperative physicals, helps schedule appointments and gathers the information needed before a patient’s visit. She said her experiences in the Air Force helped expand her knowledge of the world, which she has found helpful with her day-to-day responsibilities.

“The world has changed a lot – so much has gone digital now. We use computers more than pen and paper, but I love people,” Teri said. “I feel like I can show people they are valued and also help them to be less nervous about their visit.” 

Though Teri works part time, she is a member of the Froedtert & MCW Military/Veterans Business Resource Group. She enjoys connecting with other team members over shared experiences. When asked to reflect on the significance of Veterans Day, she said she is grateful for the appreciation that comes with it. 

“Veterans Day means a lot to our family, and we appreciate the respect and recognition our veterans receive today.”

Thank you to our veterans, active-duty members and reservists for your service to our country. Veterans Day, observed annually on Nov. 11, is an official public holiday honoring military veterans — people who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.