Strub was born on 16 September 1897 in Vaduz as the son of Josef Ritter and Karolina Thönyone as one of five children.

[1] Strub entered a political career early in his life, serving as a government councillor from 1913 to 1923.

He then briefly worked in the National Bank of Liechtenstein before becoming a self-employed businessman and trustee.

During World War II, he defied Nazi Germany and the German National Movement in Liechtenstein by starting a bonfire designed to act as a manifestation of the burning of Swastikas.

[1] In 1942, he was elected mayor of Vaduz, which he served until 1966 as a member of the Progressive Citizens' Party.