Obituary of Steven R. Struss

Steven Ray Struss, 72, of Cambridge, Minnesota, passed away on February 3, 2018 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota due to complications from a stroke. 

Steve was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Herdis (Bollesen) Struss and Raymond Struss on May 13, 1945.  He grew up in Tyler, Minnesota and graduated from Tyler High School in 1963.  He participated in Boys State, served as class president and was named valedictorian of his class.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota in 1967.  While at Gustavus, he served as a student manager for the Gusties football team. 

Steve taught English for 34 years, in Adrian, Cambridge, and Braham.  He spent most of his career teaching 8^th grade English at Cambridge Middle School.  During his teaching career, he refereed and coached many sports, including serving as one of the first varsity girls’ basketball coaches at Cambridge High School. 

Steve met his wife, Nancy, when both were teaching at Cambridge Middle School in 1974.  They were married on June 12, 1976 at St. Thomas Catholic Church in International Falls and raised their three children in Cambridge.

Steve loved sports his entire life and was active in the Cambridge area senior softball league for many years.  He also enjoyed crossword puzzles, television, and chatting with friends, neighbors, and former students while running errands or walking the dogs.  Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family and Bichon Frises, Buddy and Barkley.  He was an active member of Christ the King Catholic Church, where he served as an usher for many years and in the Knights of Columbus.

Steve was an amazing husband and father.  He will be remembered for his quick wit, dry sense of humor, and intelligence.  He loved people and had a knack for remembering the details of their lives. 

Steve is survived by his wife of 41 years, Nancy, of Cambridge and children, Carrie (Joel) Hentges of Shakopee, Chad Struss of Cambridge, and Bryan (Leah) Struss of Rochester; grandchildren Jacob Hentges, Benjamin Hentges, Noah Struss and Lydia Struss; sister Karen (Mike) Kelley of Tyler; brother Richard (Diane) Struss of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; sisters-in-law, Chris (Scott) Bredemeier of Eden Prairie and Diane (Lyle) Windsnes of International Falls, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Struss and Herdis Struss Langdahl, brother Kai Struss, sister Cathy Stewart and nephews David Kelley and Bobby Lemcke.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the medical staffs at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and Cambridge Medical Center as well as Father Derek Wiechmann of Christ the King Catholic Church. 

In keeping with Steve’s generous spirit, his organs and tissues were donated to Lifesource for transplant and research.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Cambridge, Minnesota on Friday, February 9, 2018 at 11 am.    Visitation will be held at Carlson-Lillemoen Funeral Home on Thursday, February 8, 2018 from 4 to 8 pm and at the church on Friday, February 9, 2018 from 10 am to 11 am.