Michael G. Strauss

Michael Strauss passed away peacefully at his home in Bellville in the early hours of Sunday, September 6, 2020.  He was born in Bellville on October 28, 1947, to H.C. “Sunny” and Doris Strauss, he attended Bellville public schools, graduating in 1966.  He went on to attend Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, where he graduated with a degree in Marketing.

Michael was active in many sports during his school years, including football, basketball, and track, but his great love was baseball, and he played semi-pro baseball in college.  Michael was also active in the youth activities at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church.

After college, he moved to Ventura, California, and began his 30+ year career in the oilfield with Vetco, Inc., as a Salesman.  Shortly thereafter, he switched to the offshore drilling field and worked his way up to Driller and then Toolpusher.  For the last 25 years, he worked for Dril-quip, Inc., retiring in July 2019.

Michael’s career allowed him to live and work in many locations worldwide, including Scotland and the North Sea, Africa, Australia, Indonesia, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Belize, and Egypt, as well as the East and West Coasts of the US and the Gulf of Mexico.

Michael was united in marriage to Agnes Reel of Eagle Lake, Texas, on May 22, 1982, at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bellville, and gained a daughter, Melanie Duke.

The family moved to Cat Spring, Texas, in 1983, where they lived for 37 years.  During that time, they raised Commercial and Registered Gelbvieh cattle.  Michael was an avid sportsman, he loved hunting and especially fishing, and for 20 years, he and his wife ran a private goose hunting lodge in Garwood, Texas, started by his father in the 1970s.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years: Agnes Strauss, daughter: Melanie Beam and her husband, Jason, of Madisonville; sister-in-law: Robin Reel of Katy.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Sunny and Doris Strauss.

Friends who wish may make memorial gifts to the:

CCA Texas
(Coastal Conservation Association)
6919 Portwest Drive, Suite 100
Houston, Texas 77024

or to:

Hospice Brazos Valley
302 East Blue Bell Road
Brenham, Texas 77833