Brian J. Straus

Brian J. Straus, 54 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Thursday morning, May 26, 2016 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND. Funeral Services for Brian will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake with Pastor Ron Volk officiating. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Brian John, son of Kenneth and Delphine (Haas) Straus was born on November 14, 1961 at the K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Marquette County, Michigan. As an Air Force brat, Brian lived with the family in Michigan, Hawaii and several other places. After his Dad’s discharge, the family moved to Valley City, ND. When Brian was 14 years old, he, his sister, mother and step father moved to Devils Lake and made it their home through the years. He attended school in Devils Lake and worked as a service station attendant for several years. Brian was united in marriage to Joyce Volk on May 15, 1981. They called Devils Lake home, living, working and raising their son here. For over 14 years, Brian was the Maintenance Technician at Sky View until a work related injury forced him to retire. Brian loved the outdoors and you would often find him outside hunting, fishing and gardening. In the evening, outdoors was a time to use his telescope and search the night sky for stars and planets. He had a love for all animals and they could sense that caring nature in him. Nothing brought more joy and happiness to Brian’s life than watching his son grow to manhood and then being a proud “Grandpa” to his grandchildren. Brian was always Brandon’s greatest fan at any school activities or sporting events. Brian’s earthly life has ended, but as his family and all those who knew and loved him, we keep in our hearts his legacy of love and a kind and caring heart. Brian is survived by his wife Joyce; son Brandon Straus and his wife Andrea and their children and Brian’s grandchildren Daylan and Merrick of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; sister Brenda (Rob) Wahl, Sanborn, ND; grandmother Beatrice Haas, also of Sanborn; father-in-law and mother-in-law Leo and Mary Volk, Devils Lake; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Jim Volk, Sioux Falls, SD, Betty (Danny) Eversvik, Starkweather, ND, Larry (Becky) Volk, Devils Lake, Dale (Leslie) Volk, Minnewaukan, ND, Ron (Kathy) Volk, Valley City, ND and Jim Kienest, Devils Lake; many nieces and nephews also survive. He was preceded in death by his parents Ken and Del, grandfather Joe Haas and sister-in-law Shirley Kienest.