Raymond J. Strauss, Jr.

STRAUSS

Posted By: Tammy Strauss (email)
Date: 5/14/2002 at 16:07:51

Raymond John Strauss Jr.�

Raymond John Strauss, Jr.,
68, of Fonda, Iowa, and Palm
Beach Gardens, Fla., died May
7, 2002. He was born June 27,
1933, to Raymond John and
Helen Fern (O’Leary) Strauss
at Fonda, Iowa.

Following graduation from
Our Lady of Good Council
High School, Fonda, Iowa he
joined the U.S. Air Force as a
flight cadet and was commis­
sioned a second lieutenant. In
1969 while stationed in Viet­
nam, he was awarded the Dis­
tinguished Flying Cross for
valor in support of a besieged
battalion of Marines at Khe
Sahn. After his retirement
from the Air Force at the rank
of major, he continued to be
involved in the aviation com­
munity and flew for an interna­
tional corporation.

He influenced the career as­
pirations of his grandson, Al­
exander, who is enrolled at the
U.S. Air Force Academy; and
his grandnephew, Aaron, who
plans to become a pilot.

He is survived by his soulmate of 16 years, Dixie Lee
McAlpin; children, Raymond J.
Strauss III, Constance (Allan)
Ellis, Lisa Datzman, Michael
(Lela) Strauss and Terrance
Strauss; grandchildren, Alex­
ander Datzman and Jessica
Ellis; brothers, Ronald (Betty)
Strauss of Marco Island, Fla.,
and Richard Strauss; sister-in-
law, Judy Strauss; aunt, Flor­
ence O’Leary; and many
nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death
by his parents, Raymond John
and Helen Fern (O’Leary)
Strauss; brothers, Eugene and
Gerald Strauss, of Fonda,
Iowa; sister, Loyce (Kenneth)
Fairburn, of Edina, Minn.; and
former wife and mother of his
children, Darlene Amdahl.

Raymond was interred Sat­
urday, May 11, at Riverside
Memorial Park, Tequesta,
Fla., with full military honors.
Following the ceremonies the
American flag was presented
to his eldest son, Raymond
Strauss III.

Donations may be made in
his memory to Hospice of
Palm Beach County, 5300 East
Ave., West Palm Beach, FL
33407. �