Vera Jane Strobel, age 90, passed away peacefully at her home in Chetek, Wisconsin on August 13, 2024, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family.

She was born at home in Sycamore, Illinois on July 14, 1934, the daughter of Nels and Gerda Nelson. The Nelsons were tenant farmers and Vera grew up with her two older brothers doing her fair share of farm chores. She was a “quick study” in the one-room schoolhouses she attended in her grade school years. But her favorite times were spent riding her horse Daisy through the fields and woods, swimming and fishing in the nearby creeks, and riding her bicycle on the country roads.

Vera started high school in Sycamore but transferred to Maple Park High School as a sophomore in 1948. She thrived in high school, excelling in her studies, athletics, and class plays. It was during those high school years that Vera and Tom Strobel became sweethearts, graduating together in 1951.

After graduation, she worked as a waitress and later as an administrative clerk at Turner Brass in Sycamore while Tom served in the Army. On March 2, 1957, Tom and Vera were united in marriage at SS Peter and Paul Church in Virgil, Illinois. They enjoyed a brief honeymoon in Niagara Falls and New York City.

Their married life together began in the cozy new ranch house they built in a stand of tall oak trees “out in the country” just north of Route 64 halfway between Virgil and Sycamore. Soon their house became a home with the arrival of son Steve in December of ’57 and daughter Lori in April of ’59. While being a dedicated mom to her two children, Vera also helped run and was acting postmaster of the Strobel country store in Virgil and spent many hours volunteering at SS Peter and Paul church and grade school. Later, Vera went back to school, obtained a beautician’s license and opened a small “salon” in the basement of her house. Vera was a dedicated wife too, supporting Tom in his long and successful career at Dekalb-Ogle (later Contel) Telephone Company in Sycamore until his retirement in 1989.

Tom and Vera loved fishing and each summer would vacation in Northern Wisconsin, first in Eagle River then in Chetek, interspersed with weekend “side trips” to Lake Delavan, Lodi, and Potato Lake. It is in Chetek that they found their “happy place.” Each year in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s the family spent a week at White Rock resort on Lake Chetek, fishing, swimming and water skiing. In 1983 Tom and Vera bought a house on the lake in Chetek and moved there full time in 1989. Their lake house became a “destination” for family and friends for the next 30 years with Vera and Tom hosting cook-outs, fishing expeditions, and hotly contested card, bocce, and Jarts games.

Vera was well known for her “can do” attitude, beautifully knit sweaters, her accordion playing, her cooking and baking (especially her rice pudding), and her competitive spirit (especially when it came to fishing and cards). But she will be remembered most for her loyalty to her friends, unequivocal love for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and enduring devotion to her husband of 67 years.

Vera is survived by her husband Tom, son Steve (Lindi) and daughter Lori (Scott) McCormick, five grandchildren: Luke McCormick, Meg McCormick, Eric Strobel (Mallory), Adam Strobel and Kyle Strobel; and 2 great-grandchildren: Lincoln and Jason Strobel.

A mass will be offered with the intention of the repose of the soul of Vera Strobel at St Boniface Church in Chetek at 11:00 am on August 22, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends strongly consider contributions to the Michael J. Fox Foundation research into the atypical Parkinson’s disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. The family also extends a special thank you for the excellent loving care provided by Northern Neighbors Home Care Services and Lakeview Medical Center Home Care and Hospice.

The Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.

Last Update: Aug 16, 2024 11:47 am CDT