Frederic W. Strobel II, age, 81 a native of Montpelier, Ohio and resident of Lake Diane near Camden, Michigan, passed away February 15, 2018. Born in Montpelier on June 12, 1936, to Frederic Strobel and Ileen (McDowell) Strobel, Fred was married to Carolyn J. Shannon on October 8, 1955. He attended Fairview Missionary Church in Angola, Indiana.
Strobel graduated from Montpelier High School in 1954. He has a Master Degree in Engineering from Norwich University. He also held degrees from the Chicago Technical College in Design & Drafting, California Western University and The Executive Management Program at Bowling Green State University. Between 1959 and 1983, Fred served in various engineering and management positions with The Aro Corporation in Bryan, Ohio. Strobel began his employment with Gendron, Inc. in Archbold in 1983 and later became co-owner. He was vice president from 1983-1997; president and CEO from 1997-2004; and board chair from 2004-2006.
His memberships included Williams County Historical Society; Williams County Writer’s Group; Williams County Genealogy Society, current chapter President of the Northwest Territory Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution and a Lifetime Member of the National Automobile & Truck Museum of the United States (NATMUS), Auburn, Indiana. Strobel served on the Northwest State Community College Foundation Board in Archbold, as a member of the finance, legacy and scholarship committees. A historian and freelance writer, Strobel authored and published the books: History of Gendron 1872-2007; First…A Dream: History of The ARO Corporation, 2011; The Old German Letters, 2014; My Amish Neighbors, 2016; and The McDowell Family: The Story of Nathaniel McDowell of Scotland who immigrated to America in 1758, 2016.
Fred loved spending time with his family and watching his great-grandchildren participating in sports and school activities. He enjoyed genealogy, Ohio State Football, NASCAR, traveling, and living at Lake Diane. He especially liked researching and writing books. Over the years, he developed close friendships with many of his Amish neighbors.
Fred is survived by his wife; two children Dr. Jeffrey (Dr. Susan) Strobel of Canyon Lake, California and Laurie (Terry) Rohlf, Archbold; four grandchildren, Kendra (Sam) JoHantgen, Kylie Patterson (Gary Beaverson), Aaron Strobel, Ashlen Strobel; and eight great-grandchildren Makayla, Olivia & Keagan Patterson, Kinsley Beaverson, Brayden, Rylan & Piper JoHantgen; and Aiden Strobel. Also surviving is one brother, Danny (Susan) Strobel, Montpelier; and six sisters, Patricia (Walter – deceased) Keller, Holt, Michigan; Kathy (Bobbie) Housh, West Unity; Christine (Roy) Mettler, Kissimmee, Florida; Karen (Michael) Esterline, Montpelier; Julie (Randy) Gearhart, Edon; and Jeanne (Edward) Hernandez, Hillsdale, Michigan.
Visitation for Frederic W. Strobel will be Monday, February 19, 2018 at Thompson Funeral Home on Main Street in Montpelier from 2:00 thru 4:00 P.M. A memorial service with follow at 4 P.M. with Pastor John Winright to officiate in conjunction with the Sons of the American Revolution.
Memorial contributions may be made to Compassion International in honor of Isaac Josias Churqui Ticona, a young man from Bolivia, South America, who Fred has been sponsoring, Hospice of Hillsdale County or a charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences can be left at www.thethompsonfuneralhome.com