Nancy’s Story
Mrs. Nancy Lou Strobel, a woman of immense heart, sharp wit, and fierce devotion to her family, peacefully finished her earthly journey on June 27, 2026. Her sunrise began on April 11, 1938, in Watertown, Wisconsin, where she was born and raised as the daughter of the late Harry B. O’Brien and Louise E. Koenig. It was in Milwaukee that she graduated from high school and laid the foundation for a life defined by love, loyalty, and a spark of individuality.
Nancy’s greatest adventure began at the age of 14 at the Sherman movie theater, where she caught the eye of a handsome young usher named Richard “Dick” Strobel. What started as a sweet teenage friendship grew into a legendary romance as they attended high school events together. They were united in holy matrimony on May 10, 1958, beginning a beautiful partnership that stood the test of time. Last year, the inseparable pair celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.
Nancy and Dick were blessed with three children, Marcy, Bob, and Larry, who became the center of Nancy's world. She poured her heart into creating a warm, welcoming home. Born with famously kind eyes, Nancy also possessed a legendary sense of sass. She was quick with a clever comeback and a formidable opponent at the card table, where her love for the game of Canasta was known to all.
Her generous spirit extended well beyond her household. Nancy believed in giving back, spending many years as an active and dedicated volunteer for the hospital in Mesa, Arizona, where she brought comfort and a smile to the patients.
Family was Nancy’s ultimate passion. Countless special memories were made during sunny summer days spent boating with her beloved grandchildren, Bryan and Christine. Nancy and her sweetheart, Dick, also shared a deep love for travel, exploring new places side-by-side. Among their many adventures, a favorite highlight was a breathtaking trip where she invited our family to join them in Alaska to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
Nancy’s vibrant life and her unforgettable spark will forever be cherished by those who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Marcy L. McFaul (and Bill); her sons, Mr. Robert S. Strobel (and Andrea) and Mr. Lawrence A. Strobel (and Jennifer); her grandchildren, Mr. Bryan R. McFaul and Mrs. Christine L. Caven (and Matt); as well as a host of family members and friends who will miss her. We will remember her always & forever.
Christine’s favorite poem for Grandma
I want to age like sea glass
I want to age like sea glass. Smoothed by tides, not broken. I want the currents of life to toss me around, shake me up and leave me feeling washed clean. I want my hard edges to soften as the years pass—made not weak but supple. I want to ride the waves, go with the flow, feel the impact of the surging tides rolling in and out.
When I am thrown against the shore and caught between the rocks and a hard place, I want to rest there until I can find the strength to do what is next. Not stuck—just waiting, pondering, feeling what it feels like to pause. And when I am ready, I will catch a wave and let it carry me along to the next place that I am supposed to be.
I want to be picked up on occasion by an unsuspected soul and carried along—just for the connection, just for the sake of appreciation and wonder. And with each encounter, new possibilities of collaboration are presented, and new ideas are born.
I want to age like sea glass so that when people see the old woman I’ll become, they’ll embrace all that I am. They’ll marvel at my exquisite nature, hold me gently in their hands and be awed by my well-earned patina. Neither flashy nor dull, just a perfect luster. And they’ll wonder, if just for a second, what it is exactly I am made of and how I got to this very here and now. And we’ll both feel lucky to be in that perfectly right place at that profoundly right time.
I want to age like sea glass. I want to enjoy the journey and let my preciousness be, not in spite of the impacts of life, but because of them.
By Bernadette Noll
