John Wilhelm Straube

John Wilhelm Straube, age 96 of York, died Saturday, July 10, 2004 at York. John was born to Amelia (Trandacht) and Wilhelm Straube in Liepaja, Latvia on June 27, 1908. As a boy he lived in Siberia and St. Petersburg, Russia where he remembered witnessing the Russian Revolution and World War I. After the turmoil of that time his family moved back to Latvia. As a young man John served in the Latvian Army. When World War II broke out he was drafted into the German Army. After the war he reunited with his family, who had fled to Germany. It was here, in Fritzlar, Germany, that he met his future wife, Ruth (Stelter) Roesler. They married November of 1950. In 1952 John and his new family immigrated to the United States, settling in Nebraska. The early years in Nebraska were difficult for John and his family and they survived on hard work and the kindness of many wonderful people in both Broken Bow and York. John spent many years working for the York Blank Book Company, York Printing Co. and retiring at age 76 from North Printing Co. in York.

John was a true intellectual, fluent in seven languages. He read and had sophisticated tastes in both music and literature. He was artistic, had a wonderful sense of humor and cared deeply about social issues. He will be remembered by his family as a loving, loyal husband and caring father.

Ruth, his beloved wife of many years and his parents preceded him in death. He is survived by one brother Oskar Straube of Germany; sons, Adolph Roesler and wife Audrey of Bennett, NE, Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube and wife Sonya Prestridge of Durham, NC; daughters Hilde Knezevic and husband Mike of Coloma, MI, Edie McNeese of Panama, NE and Velta Straube of Loveland, CO. John had 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren; 3 nephews and a niece.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday at 10:00 am at the Metz Chapel in York with the Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube officiating. Burial was in the Greenwood Cemetery at York.