Obituary of Laura Strauss

Laura Strauss, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away on Wednesday, November 22nd, 2017 in the Galahad Care Centre at the age of 93 years.

Laura, the second child of Siegfried and Martha (Boehm) Bohme was born on November 1, 1924, in Edmonton.

Laura grew up on the Bohme family farm in the Spring Lake district along with her sisters Frances and Thelma and her brothers Wilfred and Art. She attended the local school and then proceeded to complete her grade twelve in Edmonton.  She then attended the University of Education Program to become a teacher. She taught school at Aspen Ridge school near Grande Prairie and in the Killam School Division at Hauser and Wanda schools. It was while teaching at Wanda school that she met Allan Strauss, the love of her life.

Laura married Allan on July 16th, 1947. They farmed the original Strauss homestead together. She enjoyed the farm life alongside Allan spending many hours working the beef ring and hauling grain during harvest season. Her neighbor let her know that it was not appropriate for a woman to be out working in the fields but she so enjoyed the outside work alongside her husband that she did it anyway. She was well ahead of her time.

She also grew a huge garden, did a lot of canning, raised chickens and turkeys to ensure her family was well fed.

Laura had nine children in a span of sixteen years and was very busy taking care of her family but found time to be involved with the community and was an active member of the CWL and the Royal Purple. She was also very involved with the first Heisler history book.

Laura and Allan enjoyed activities with friends such as curling, card playing, golfing and bowling. They also spent a lot of time camping and fishing with their family. She was adamant about her dislike for beer but occasionally had one when it was extremely hot and then got teased endlessly for it. She was a good sport about that but not so much when it came to water fights.

Laura was very artistic. She played the piano and spent many hours doing crafts such as crocheting, paper tole, sewing, painting and making wool quilts. Her children will always treasure the doilies and pictures she made for them and her grandchildren cherish the Strawberry Shortcake dolls and teddy bears she sewed for them. When Laura was a young woman she wanted to be an artist and had great talent but her dad informed her she would starve if she pursued that career.

Laura and Allan built a house in Heisler and retired there in the fall of 1985. Once they were retired Laura became instrumental in the building of the Heisler bowling alley and was the statistician for many years for both the mixed and senior leagues. Being retired she enjoyed more traveling but was anxious to get back home as she was missing family events and her bowling. Over the years she traveled to many countries. One of her favorite trips was to New Zealand.

Laura spent her later years at Big Knife Villa in Forestburg and then at the Galahad Care Centre. She always received compassionate care and in return gave great hugs and entertained the caregivers with her many stories.

Over the years it was evident that Laura’s family was extremely important to her. She instilled family values in her children and grandchildren that will forever influence all their lives. It was very important to her that her children received a good education. Health and dentistry were also priorities with a dentist trip for all nine children a must each year. This has to be considered an amazing feat all on its own.

She was an extremely strong woman who lived her life to the fullest.

We are proud to call her our mom, grandma, and great-grandma. She will forever be in our hearts.

We will miss her dearly.

Laura is survived by her nine children, Geraldine (John) VanDerDonk, Simone (Peter) Tschaja, Judy (Brian) Knodel, Sylvia (Michael) Jahns, Rodney (Shirley) Strauss, Karen (Dallas) Steinke, Denise Barrett (Carl Pesce), Darcy (Susan) Strauss and Michelle (Dennis) McNabb; two sisters Frances and Thelma Bohme; twenty-two grandchildren and thirty-four great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her loving husband Allan, parents Siegfried and Martha; brothers, Wilfred and Arthur; son in law Jim Barrett.

A Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 pm on Sunday, November 26th at St. Martin’s Catholic Church, Heisler.  Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 27th at St. Martin’s Catholic Church. Memorial donations in memory of Laura may be made to Galahad Care Centre; St. Martin’s Cemetery; Alzheimer Society; or a charity of choice.