Jean S Strauss

Jean S. Strauss, age 87, reached the home Jesus promises all his followers on July 22, 2025. She had been in assisted living till early February of this year when she moved back home to be with husband Steve. He stayed by her side till her last breath. Pastor Tracy Hilts of Living Hope Creekside church provided spiritual comfort in those last hours.

Jean was born in Holbrook, Massachusetts to Howard and Iva Sawyer (b. Parrott) in August, 1937. Post high-school, she graduated from the Katharine Gibbs School of Secretarial and Executive Training for Educated Women. The excellence of her training there led to secretarial and administrative jobs such as working for a Professor of Anthropology at Harvard and later to one of Boston’s leading law firms, Foley Hoag LLP, from where she retired.

She married Richard Whitmarsh in April, 1960, at East Bridgewater, MA, and later divorced in 1988. She raised four wonderful and beautiful children, Dianne, Karla, Richard, and Polly. After her divorce from Richard, Jean raised her youngest daughter, Polly, nearly through Polly's last year in college. Jean traveled as a church missionary to Vienna in 2000 where she provided administrative support to the Vienna Christian School. Jean was called away from that work when Polly became seriously ill, subsequently diagnosed as cancer. Polly's struggle with cancer ended in July, 2003 at the age of 26.

While Jean grieved the loss of Polly, she began working as a volunteer for various Christian organizations. In January 2005 she responded to a need at the Salvation Army of Fort Collins for a computer instructor. As director of the SA computer lab Steve Strauss worked with Jean for a year and a half. Their close collaboration and prayers for the lab students led to a personal commitment to each other in marriage. They were married in July of 2006. In 2008, Jean and Steve came to Colorado Springs to work for Biblical Education by Extension.

Jean loved teaching Sunday school while living in Boston and later in Loveland, CO. In addition to Jean's continued labors in Christian ministry, Jean was also an art lover who became a devotee of collage art. She produced numerous beautiful collage pieces and entered them in art shows where at least one received best in show for the collage category.

Jean is survived by one sister, Joan Leland; husband, Steve Strauss, aforementioned children, Dianne Garabedian with husband Paul of Englewood, FL; Karla Whitmarsh of East Sandwich, MA; Richard Whitmarsh with wife Irina of Half Moon Bay, CA; and grandchildren, Katie Mehsling of Fraser, CO; Jake Reed of East Sandwich, MA; Braedon Reed of East Sandwich, MA; Corey and Ben Whitmarsh of Half Moon Bay, CA; as well as neices and nephews: Jane Napolitano, John Mills, Andy Mills, Pam Sanford, Steven Sawyer, and Ed Leland.

Jean was preceded in passing by beloved daughter Polly, and grandson, Tyler Reed as well as her siblings, Johnny Sawyer, Howard Sawyer, Janet Mills, and Judy Dupuis.

A Memorial Service will be held August 3, 2:30 pm, at Living Hope Creekside Church, 6750 North Union in Colorado Springs, Pastor Tracy Hilts officiating. A viewing will be hosted at Swan-Law mortuary between 9-11 am, Tuesday, August 5 after which Jean will be transported to Fort Collins Grand View Cemetery to be laid to rest alongside Polly. A brief graveside service will be held for family and friends who can make the trip. Dr. Stephen Lewis of Biblical Education by Extension will officiate.