Steven John Strauss

Steven John Strauss of Medford, Oregon, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on August 27, 2017 at the age of 71. He was born October 19, 1945 in Glendale, California to George and Suzanne Strauss. He grew up in San Jose, California along with his siblings, Gary Strauss, Gail (Strauss) Boyne and Stanley Strauss. After graduating from Blackford High School, he attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California where he earned a degree in chemistry. He then joined the U.S. Navy and earned the rank of Lieutenant. He worked as a flight instructor training pilots to land on aircraft carriers. It was during this time that he married Beverly A. Heppner in October 1970. The couple lived in Mississippi and Tennessee until his honorable discharge in 1973. Steve and Beverly moved back to Oregon where he joined the Oregon State Police and worked as a trooper for several years stationed in Eugene, Oregon. Wanting to use his chemistry degree, he was transferred to the Oregon State Police Crime Laboratory and worked as a forensic scientist/criminalist III and managed the OSP Crime Laboratory in Central Point, Oregon. He retired after 25 years of service. Steve worked part-time for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Forensic Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon and then for the City of Medford in the Photo Enforcement Van. Steve and Beverly have been married for 46 years. They have two sons, Jon Steven Strauss (wife Andrea) and Ian Isaac Strauss (wife Mindy) and five grandchildren, Ellie Annah, Elyssa, Cade, Anya and Issac. Steve had many interests and was always working on a “project.” He loved to read; was a scuba diver; sang in a barbershop chorus; enjoyed attending sporting activities that his sons were involved in and attended men’s Bible studies. After his retirement from OSP, he became a “gentleman farmer” and raised grass fed beef.