August 28, 1927 - April 9, 2020
Gerald Warren Straub, born at home near Bertha, MN to Warren and Agnes Straub on August 28, 1927, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2020. Gerry lived in the farming community in and around Hewitt and Henning, MN. Gerry enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 in December 1944. He served on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theatre. He married his childhood sweetheart Anna Knudson on April 21, 1948. After the war, Gerry and Anna moved to the Fargo/Moorhead area where Gerry went to business college. After college, he began his 30-year career with Standard Oil, moving to several locations in the Midwest. After his retirement from Standard Oil, Gerry and Anna bought Shing Wako Resort in Merrifield, MN which they ran for 10 years. During their time in the Brainerd, MN area, Gerry belonged to the Lions Club, American Legion, Crosslake Lutheran Church, Crosslake, MN, and Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, MN. Gerry and Anna resided in the Brainerd area until moving to Edina, MN in 2015. Gerry lost his beloved wife, Anna after 68 years of marriage in June of 2016.
Gerry is survived by his sons, Terry Straub of Richfield, MN and his wife, Beverly; Jeff Straub of Waubun, MN and his wife, Patty and her family; grandsons, Gabe Straub of Richfield, MN and his wife, Becky, Justin Straub of Bloomington, MN and his wife, Kristin; great-granddaughters, Evelyn, Ruby and Maisie; niece Cindy Hitchcock and her husband, Jim; nephews, Wayne Straub and his wife, Joy, Mike Straub and his wife, Lindsey, Randy Sweere and several great-nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Helen Christenson of Henning, MN along with the extended Anna Knudson family and Kern family.
Gerry is preceded in death by parents, Warren and Agnes Straub; wife, Anna Marie (Knudson) Straub; sister, Iola (Straub) Sweere; brother, Wallace (Buzz) Straub; nephew, Rick Sweere; and many Kern and Knudson relatives.
Services will be held at a later date.
Your Mom and Dad were such great friends of ours. My husband, Mel Hamre worked at Standard Oil with your Dad. We were together with your folks very frequently when we lived in Hopkins, Mn. and they had the house with the great rec room in the basement. We also visited them when they had the cabins near Nisswa and they visited us in San Bernardino, Ca. I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my husband twelve years ago in March. I am thankful for all the wonderful memories. I turned 92 on Valentines Day and I was going to bible studies and Sunday services at my Lutheran Church but, of course, now we are sheltering at home. Again, my sincere condolences.