Obituary of Crystal Marie Goldman

Crystal Marie Goldman (Strohschein), age 42 of Duluth, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on September 11, 2023 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, as she so gracefully followed her path of healing.

Crystal was born on June 14, 1981 in Owatonna, Minnesota to parents John Strohschein and Marcia (Meixner) Kraus. She was a child of nature, discovering her purest joy and God’s tranquility while in the outdoors. She graduated from Owatonna High School in 1999, went on to graduate from Carlson School of Business at the University of Minnesota, then obtain her master’s from Hamline University. Her passion for Latin American travel and her endless love for children ignited her career as an educator. She taught at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion in Eden Prairie prior to joining Duluth Public Schools in 2015, where she built the Nueva Visión Spanish Immersion program at Lowell Elementary from the ground up. Her legacy will carry on through the continued work of the teachers, and the language, culture and compassion she shared with her beloved students.

On July 11, 2008, Crystal married the love of her life, Dan Goldman. They had two sons, Griffin (12) and Charlie (9) - their most profound joy. Her love for her boys was both gentle and fierce, and her patience unwavering. Her boys will forever remember how much she loved to read, bike, camp, play, forage, search for sea glass and agates, and spend time at the family farm with them. Their home is a cherished space, forever enriched by all the subtleties that only a mother can provide.

Crystal was a devoted Christian who had a love for the outdoors, sporting events, lake time at the family cabin, mountain biking, running, hiking, trips to the Boundary Waters, gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She was admired for her courage to speak up for what she believed in, and she was respected as someone who lived a life of humility and integrity. Forever a teacher, she inspired those around her towards health, wellness, environmentalism, and social justice. She cared deeply for others and was easy to love -the wide and generous community that surrounds her family now is a testament to that.

Crystal is survived by her husband of 15 years, Dan Goldman, and her sons, Griffin and Charlie. Parents John (Shari) Strohschein, Marcia (Jim) Kraus, father and mother-in-law Greg and Debbie Goldman, siblings Derek (Kristina) Strohschein, Heather (Tom) Ewert, Jason (Kristin) Kraus, Jimmy (Tasha) Kraus, Jill (Andy) Walz, Justin (Summer) Kraus, Joey (Alex) Kraus. Sister-in-law Andrea (Youssef) Sawers, grandparents Marvin and Beverly Meixner., aunts and uncles Laurie (Dan) Boeke, Mavis (Dale) Schmidt, Mark (Claudia) Meixner, and many cousins, nieces and nephews who love her dearly.

Crystal was preceded in death by grandparents Harland and Mona Strohschein.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 1-4 pm on October 1, 2023 at Hartley Nature Center in Duluth, MN. Additional details and logistical information will be provided through CaringBridge over the next few days (https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/crystalgoldman).