Former Crown Point police deputy chief and Lake County Councilman Eldon Strong died Saturday after a yearlong battle with a rare blood cancer, according to his family. He was 72 years old.

A year ago, Eldon Strong was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, which is a rare blood cancer where a person doesn’t have enough healthy blood cells, said his wife Pauline Strong. He was taking medications, she said, but about two weeks ago the medication stopped working, she said.

Eldon Strong served in the U.S. Marines Corps after graduating from Crown Point High School. After an honorable discharge, he joined the Crown Point Police Department, where he served for 35 years, rising through the ranks to become deputy chief and detective commander, according to his obituary.

Crown Point Mayor Pete Land said in a statement that he was hired as a police officer when Eldon Strong was the deputy chief of police, “so his leadership had a tremendous impact on my early career as a young officer.”“Throughout his long law enforcement career, he was a dedicated officer for our community and helped build our police department into what it is today,” Land said. “He challenged all of us to put the community first and serve our city in a professional matter, that we represent not only ourselves but our department.”

Bill Babjak, a former Crown Point police officer, said Eldon Strong joined the department three years after he did, and they served together and became friends whose friends grew up together.

“We always knew we had each other’s back,” Babjak said.

Additionally, Eldon Strong served a four-year term on the Center Township Board, 10 years as Center Township Trustee and six years on the Lake County Council, according to his obituary.

Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, said when he won his race to become state representative, he had two years left as a councilman. So Niemeyer asked Eldon Strong to run in the caucus for the vacant seat, and he won. Then, Eldon Strong ran and served a full four-year term, Niemeyer said.

“He did everything he needed to do for his district,” Niemeyer said. “Whatever Eldon Strong told you, you could trust 100%. He was a man of his word.”

Cedar Creek Township Trustee Alice Dahl said as a councilman, Eldon Strong helped all the trustees in Lake County receive funding through local income tax to go toward public safety, which was a tremendous benefit to the county.

“Eldon was just the best guy,” Dahl said. “He would listen to you, and then run with the ball.”

Council President Christine Cid, D-East Chicago, said she “had the honor” of serving on the council along with Eldon Strong.

“His priority was serving his constituents,” Cid said. “My condolences to his family and all who had the pleasure of his company.”

Lake County Council attorney Ray Szarmach said Eldon Strong continued to support law enforcement during his time as a councilman as he served as chairman of the negotiating committee with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.

Eldon Strong would not back down on issues important to him and his constituents, Szarmach said, and he stood by his convictions.

“He always acted in a manner he thought best for the taxpayers and citizens of Lake County,” Szarmach said. “He was a man of integrity.”

Pauline Strong said she went to high school with Eldon Strong, but after graduation, they lost touch. Years later, they reconnected and became friends again, she said.

Ultimately, Pauline Strong said they were both on Match.com and matched together. After a few emails, they realized they knew each other and started dating, she said.

“We got together, and we’ve been together ever since,” Pauline Strong said. They had been together about 20 years, she said.

Eldon Strong is survived by two daughters, a stepson, three granddaughters, a grandson, a sister and a brother, according to his obituary.

Her husband was a happy, joyful man who had many friends, Pauline Strong said. The couple lived on Main Street in Crown Point, so the Fourth of July parade always meant a large party was held at their house, she said.

“If you became a friend of Eldon’s, you basically became a friend for life,” Pauline Strong said. “He was the best friend anyone could have.”

The couple enjoyed fishing together and with friends, she said.

“He was the organizer in our group. He organized everything, down to his funeral,” she said.

A wake will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at Burns Funeral Home and Crematory, 10101 Broadway in Crown Point. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Burns Funeral Home and inurnment at Historic Maplewood Cemetery in Crown Point.

akukulka@post-trib.com