Obituary: Henry Seigbert Strauss - Atlanta Jewish Times

Henry Seigbert Strauss, age 96, of Atlanta passed away on Aug. 3, 2024. Henry was born in Alsfeld, Germany, the son of Martha and Albert Strauss. After being expelled from school in Alsfeld by the Nazis, he attended a Jewish boarding school in Bad Nauheim, Germany. After Kristallnacht, Henry’s father had escaped to Zambia, so at age 11, he and his mother sailed to Zambia to be with his father. Henry grew up in Zambia and Rhodesia, happily away from Germany. He worked as an electrician in the copper mines and came to America with his parents at age 19, where they were reunited with his brother, Walter. Henry lost his older sister to the concentration camps.

In Atlanta, Henry married Liz, his wife of 69 years, had three children and singularly built the largest independent vending company in the Southeast. Henry was known to all for his generous and kind heart. He helped many people start their own businesses and was committed to supporting Israel and other charitable causes. He lived simply and humbly, with fierce devotion to his wife, children and grandchildren. Until the end, Henry had a group of devoted friends who visited him every single day. He drew a houseful of friends and family at his recent 96th birthday party. Henry’s incredible life story was recorded by the Spielberg USC Shoah Foundation and by the Breman Museum in Atlanta.

Henry is survived by son, Stephen Strauss (Roz) and daughters, Karen Baron (Roy) and Margaret Weiss (Jon), seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two nieces and many, many friends. A graveside service was held at Crestlawn Cemetery on Aug. 6, officiated by Rabbi Spike Anderson of Temple Emanu-El. Contributions in memory of Henry can be made to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces or The Breman Museum, Weinberg Center for Holocaust Education. Arrangements by Dressler’s.

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