Marion Joyce Strauss

Marion Joyce (Merritt) Strauss passed away peacefully on August 24, 2026. She had shared 82 years of unconditional love, laughter, and amazing memories with her family and friends.

She was born in Waseca, MN to Glenn and Minnie (Gehrke) Merritt. She was one of four girls and three boys to bless the Merritt family.

After graduating from Freeborn High School in 1962 she was united in marriage to Donald Strauss on September 26, 1963. They shared 53 years of marriage until his passing in 2017. They began their life and family in Janesville, MN and had six children.

To say Marion was an extraordinary wife, mother, grandma, great grandma, sister, and friend is an understatement. She worked many jobs throughout her lifetime. She was very talented and had a love for dancing, music, flowers, gardening, canning, crafts, sewing, making holiday decorations, decorating her home, baking, cooking, eating sweets, and spending time with her lifelong best friend, Susie Wolff. Above everything else, she always put her family and grandkids first. She was a remarkable woman and will be greatly missed.

She leaves only joyful memories to her children, Brett (Janice), Brad (Dayna), Melissa (Darren) Boeck, and Chad (Brigitte); grandchildren, Whitney (Marcus) Penny, Cassie (Amy) Strauss-Fordham, Kiara, Lexi, Zoe, Dillon (Kenna), Kennedy (Joe) Galler, Kade, Lilly, and Izabella; great grandchildren, Jalyn, Jaxon, Blakely, Parker, Llewyn, and Ginny; brothers, Roger (Mary) Merritt and Ray Merritt; sister, Regina Bair; brother-in-law, Bob (Barb)Strauss; sisters-in-law, Helen Young and LeAnn Schmidt; along with many nieces, nephews and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two children in infancy, Todd and Susan; sisters, Sharon Jacobs and Arlene Mithun; and brother Clete Merritt.

Marion's family will host a memorial service on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 12:00 PM at Faith Lutheran Church in Janesville, MN; Pastor Sarah Krolak will officiate. A visitation will be held two hours prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the Janesville Cemetery.