I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7

Norbert Strauss of West Bend, formerly of Grafton, passed away into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012, at Harvest Home Assisted Living in West Bend. He was 87 years old.

Norbert was born on Oct. 4, 1924, in Milwaukee, the son of Norbert F. and Anna M. Neumann Strauss. He grew up in Milwaukee and joined the U.S. Navy at age 17, prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Norbert served on the USS Ingraham in the Pacific Theatre and was honorably discharged as a gunners mate 3rd class in 1945.

On Jan. 31, 1948, he was united in marriage to Norma Tuecke at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. The couple moved to the Grafton area, where Norbert worked as an appliance repairman for Sears for over 30 years. He was a member of Open Door Bible Church in Port Washington. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, camping and traveling, Civil War and World War II history and reading.

Norbert is survived by his three children, Ruth Ann (Scott) Phaneuf of West Bend, Stephen (Linda) Strauss of Evergreen, Colo., and Tom (Alicia) Strauss of Waukesha. He is further survived by five grandchildren, Anne (John) Contant, Melissa Phaneuf, Sarah (Bryce) Turi, Elizabeth (Rory) Buchanan and Naomi Strauss; eight great- grandchildren, Tristan, Ella, Aidan, Johannah, Scarlett, Jebediah, Delaney and Miles; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma; his parents; and five sisters, Gertrude Strauss, Wilma Seefurth, Mary Ann Reit, Janette Mayer and Louise Kuhn.

Funeral services for Norbert will be celebrated on Friday, Sept. 7, at 6 p.m. at Open Door Bible Church, 3420 County Road LL, Port Washington, with Pastor Jim Engelman officiating. A time of gathering will take place at the church on Friday, Sept. 7, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Open Door Bible Church.

The Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington, is assisting the family.

Norbert’s family would like to thank the management and staff at Harvest Home for their exceptional care and loving service.