Donald Mills Strauss, 87, of North Manchester, Ind., passed away at 2:52 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind.

He was born May 18, 1925, in North Manchester to Daniel Arden and Eileen (Mills) Strauss. He married Billie Jane Grubb in Wabash, Ind., on June 19, 1949; she passed away March 21, 2004.

Don left high school to enlist in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He attended Indiana University, graduated from Dartmouth College, and attended the Harvard School of Business. As a fourth generation member of the Strauss family in North Manchester, Don continued the family business, which began in 1875, and was the founder of Strauss Veal Feeds and Midwest Poultry Services.

Don was a member of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity at Indiana University, the North Manchester American Legion, and a past member of the North Manchester Rotary Club. He was a recipient of the North Manchester Distinguished Citizen of the Year award. Don was an avid Indianapolis 500 fan, loved his family business, his North Manchester community, and his family. He and his wife Billie supported their community through many philanthropic organizations, including the Peabody Retirement Community, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Strauss Peabody Aquatic and Fitness Center.

Donald is survived by his two daughters: Sarah (Robert) Krouse and Patricia (David) Grant, both of North Manchester; five grandchildren: Daniel M. (Paige) Krouse, Bloomington, Ind.; Samuel R. Krouse, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Sarah M. Grant, Chicago, Ill.; Leah S. Grant New York, N.Y.; Emily E. Grant, North Manchester; and his sister, Joanne Strauss Crown, Wilmette, Ill.

Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, at Grandstaff-Hentgen Bender Chapel, 207 W. Main Street, North Manchester. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 113 W. Main Street, North Manchester. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, North Manchester.

The family requests all memorial contributions be made to Peabody Retirement Community, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Building Fund, or the Community Foundation of Wabash County for the benefit of the Donald M. and Billie Jane Strauss Aquatic Center Endowment.