Leah Strausser

Leah P. Strausser, 97, formerly of 1215 Centennial Rd., Mifflinburg, since 1948, died at 8:44 a.m., Friday, July 26, 2019, at Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village, Lewisburg.

She was born April 25, 1922, in Luzerne, a daughter of the late Hudson and Leah (Harter) Travers.  On June 14, 1942, in Shamokin Dam, she married Richard K. Strausser, Sr., who preceded her in death August 23, 2015.

Leah was a 1941 graduate of Northumberland High School, where she played the saxophone in the all-girls marching band.  After high school, she attended Central Penn Business College, Harrisburg.

She was an active member of the Emanuel United Church of Christ, Penns Creek, since the 1940’s, where she served as President of the Ladies Auxillary.

Leah was employed as a Nurse’s Aide at many area nursing homes.

She was an accomplished ballet and tap dancer, and enjoyed square dancing for the Penn Wheelers and Danjo Wheelers.  Leah tap danced on live radio in the 1920’s and 30’s.

Leah and her husband sponsored many children from New York City in the 1950’s and 60’s through the Fresh Air Program.

She enjoyed gardening, swimming, traveling, and bird watching.

Surviving are two sons and daughters-in-law, Gary M. and Catherine Strausser of Sierra Vista, Arizona, and Glen P. and Donna Strausser of Rapid City, South Dakota; two daughters and one son-in-law, Nancy K. Gray of Enid, Oklahoma, and Barbara A. and Gary Gemberling of Mifflinburg; 11 grandchildren and their spouses, Kristopher Strausser, Annette Strausser, Sean Strausser, Laurette Strausser, Hope and Daren Hamen, Jeromy and Lori Haines, Angie Haines, Amanda Gray, Tanya and Jeff Starr, Joshua and Becca Gemberling, and Autumn and Kevin Shuck; 21 great grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; 10 step great grandchildren; and 3 step great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one son Richard K. Strausser, Jr.; and one brother, Eddie and one sister, Alice, in infancy.

Family and friends are welcome from 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, at the Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Rd., Mifflinburg, where the funeral will be conducted at 11, with Rev. Marian K. Anderson, Chaplain of the Buffalo Valley Lutheran Village, officiating.

Burial will be in the Penns Creek Union Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to either St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105, or to your local S.P.C.A.

Funeral arrangements are by Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Rd., Mifflinburg.