John Robert Strausser

John Strausser was born in Jackson Center, Pennsylvania, on January 14, 1927. John passed from this world on December 26, 2017. He was the eldest of three children born to John and Calina Strausser. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother William, and his sister Marian. He is survived by his wife Ruth, his two daughters, Donna and husband Charles Pilgrim, and Susan and husband Dr. Joseph Otruba, three granddaughters, Laura, Katie, and Sara, and four great-granddaughters and one great-grandson.

He graduated Mercer High School in 1946, John then attended Grove City College receiving a BS degree in chemical engineering. Upon graduation, he went to work for Gulf Research in Harmarville, PA. In 1950, he married the former Ruth Graff in Arnold, PA. He graduated from Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, PA, receiving a Masters Degree.

In 1963, they moved to Baytown to continue John’s career at the Cedar Bayou Gulf plant. His first position there was Staff Engineer. He was soon promoted to Operations Manager. Then in 1972, after serving a year in Rotterdam, Holland, he was made Plant Manager of the Cedar Bayou Chemicals plant in Baytown. After serving in this capacity for four years, he was moved to Houston as Manager of Site Development. He retired in 1983 when Gulf became Chevron. This was by no means the end of his working career. He became a real estate broker and enjoyed that occupation for several years. After that he served in Houston on the Appraisal Review board for six years, becoming Chairman the final year.

He also enjoyed being a Mason, becoming Master of his lodge during his membership in the Blue Lodge in PA. He has also been a Shriner for many years.

The family will be holding a private service.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children; www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.