Joan Strauss, 76, of Elkader, Iowa, passed away Monday, December 9, 2024, at her home. A Celebration of Life was held Saturday, January 4, 2025, 10:30 a.m., at Grace Evangelical Church, Elkader, with Pastor Ryan Zurbriggen officiating.

Joan Lucille (Blom) Strauss was born on January 20, 1948, as the first child to Dick A. and Pauline (Bruxvoort) Blom in Adrian, Minn. Growing up with her three siblings on the family farm outside of Leota, Minn., Joan developed a deep love for music and a talent for playing the piano.

Joan attended Chandler High School. She began her studies at Northwestern College (NWC) in Orange City, Iowa, attending for one year before pursuing training as an X-ray technician in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she worked for three years. Joan later returned to NWC to complete her education. It was there she met her future husband, Thomas Strauss, with whom she shared 51 years of marriage. Joan graduated with a degree in music, setting the stage for a lifelong dedication to music.

After their wedding on June 29, 1973, Joan and Tom settled in Strawberry Point, Iowa, where they raised their two children, Laura and Jonathan. They later moved to Elkader, Iowa, in 1999. Joan began her teaching career as a vocal music instructor at Fayette and Starmont Community High School. She also became a beloved piano teacher, sharing her musical expertise with over 200 students throughout Northeast Iowa before retiring in 2013. Joan’s musical gifts were widely appreciated as she lent her talents to countless weddings, funerals, theatrical performances, student contests, and church services. Yet, she declared that her favorite role was being a mother and a homemaker.

In her later years, Joan embraced her role as “Grandma” with great joy, often traveling with family or to visit her two children and attending her grandchildren’s band and vocal performances, basketball, football, and soccer games. A dedicated sports fan, she passed along her enthusiasm for the Minnesota Vikings and the Iowa Hawkeyes to her family.

Joan accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior at a Billy Graham Crusade at the age of 13 years and later was a member of Community Bible Church and later Grace Evangelical Free Church, exemplifying a servant’s heart throughout her life. She was always willing to help those in need, whether by providing support to struggling families, mentoring young women, or visiting incarcerated women in the county jail.

Her faith was a cornerstone of her life, and her favorite verse, John 3:16, reflected her deep belief. Joan found comfort in reflecting on a personal interpretation of Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas of Elkader; her children, Laura (Craig) of Salina, Kan., Jonathan (Sara) Strauss of Lake Zurich, Ill.; four grandchildren; siblings Diann (Dave) Claassen, Brandon, Fla., and Cuecuecuautitla, Mexico; Dean (Sue) Blom of New Hope, Minn., and Sherlyn (Jim) DeHoog of San Antonio, Texas.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Dick and Pauline Blom, and her in-laws Kenneth and Esther Strauss