Christianne Strum

Chris was born on September 8, 1953 in Elgin, Illinois. She died on January 13th, 2024, leaving this earth with a gentle sigh, after a ferocious battle with pancreatic cancer. Chris was a light to all who knew her and will be deeply missed by her many friends and extended family.

Chris was raised in Elgin, where she was valedictorian of her high school class. She began undergraduate studies at Augustana College, then transferred to Northwestern University, graduating Summa Cum Lauda with departmental honors and election to Phi Beta Kappa. After graduating, she worked in Chicago for a stock brokerage firm where she became a vice president at age 26.

Chris met her beloved husband, Greg, in December, 1971, when he was invited to join her Christmas caroling group. They eventually settled in Salem in July, 1985. Her next career was as a dedicated stay-at-home mother to sons Michael and Mat, while also taking on many volunteer roles. Chris then returned to the workforce, where for the last ten years of her career she served as Senior Program Coordinator at the Willamette University College of Law.

She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Gregory M. Strum, M.D., son Michael Strum, M.D, daughter in-law Ashley Lundgren Strum, M.D., son Matthew Strum, daughter-in-law Desirae Piter Strum, and grandchildren Nora and Jackson Strum.

A visitation for Chris will be held at Golden’s Funeral Home this Wednesday, January 17th, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with a private burial at a later date.

Donations in Chris’ name to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research or the Providence Portland Cancer Institute would be most welcome. Her family is grateful to Willamette Vital Health for the compassionate hospice care they provided for Chris during her illness.