WISCONSIN HIGH 45th REUNION

Harriet Hartshore and I married after college in 1964 and we have a daughter who finished her Master’s Degree at the University of Oregon. Harriet and I divorced after 14 years and I remarried Linda Zimmermann, a School Psychologist in Missoula.

Linda and I live in a cedar log home on Grant Creek just 15 minutes from campus, 7 miles from Snow Bowl Ski Area, and our own wilderness area behind us. I enjoy all Montana seasons for recreating including skiing, backpacking, kayaking, mountain biking, and golf. For several years Linda and I raised bloodhounds for show, and currently are the Montana representative for the Northwest Bloodhound Breed Rescue.

I worked up through the ranks to become a full professor in Psychology, served 8 years as Chair of the Psychology Department, 8 years as Associate Dean of the Graduate School, and in 1998 I became Dean of the Graduate School at The University of Montana. I’m sure retirement is right around the corner, but I very much enjoy the stimulation of the job I’m in.

I have many wonderful memories of WHS. I can’t believe how lucky we were to have been given such a wonderful educational foundation from the excellent faculty we had. It is too bad the school closed after we left, but I guess we broke the mold.

A couple of memories stand out. I broke my leg skiing when I was a junior. I remember going to the junior prom and dancing on one foot until my date got dizzy.I asked a friend if he wouldn’t mind giving my date at least one good dance. I sat down and talked to his date, who turned out to be Harriet Hartshorne, my future wife and mother of our child.

I remember driving my dad’s car, a red and white pontiac convertable, and getting lost cutting through a golf course with about 12 girls hanging from all sides of the car. A cop stopped us and I realized I was wearing my swimming trunks and didn’t have an ID. The cop told me to get out of the car and I said “I don’t have any pants on.” That started all the females laughing and screaming and I thought I was going to be hauled to jail. The cop took pity and let us off with a lecture.

I was good friends with Barry Olsen and Stewart Quisling. I remember as a kid going over to Stuart’s house to shoot his BB gun at targets in his basement. Like my own BB gun, I could spend hours shooting, until I found out that Stuart would get one BB from his parents for every hour he practiced his piano. I felt so guilty shooting his gun hundreds of times, but it sure made Stuart an excellent pianist. I miss Barry and would like to hear how he is doing.

Activiities – skiing, backpacking, kayaking, mountain biking, and golf. Raised bloodhounds for show. Currently, David and Linda are the Montana representatives for the Northwest Bloodhound Breed Rescue.

Parents – deceased
Brother – Albert Strobel, actor (he’s the “One Arm Man” in the Twin Peaks series and movie), retired in Portland, OR.
Sister – Bonnie Strobel retired from teaching in Madison is living in her cabin in northern Michigan.
Brother – Roger Strobel is the Assistant Director of Building Services, University Center at The U of Montana, Missoula.
Sister – Robin Strobel is an editor for a publishing company in Seattle, WA.

David Strobel

Received June 16, 2010 

WISCONSIN HIGH 50th REUNION

Sorry my update is a little late.  It doesn’t look like I will be attending the reunion, but I sincerely hope you all will have a wonderful time. As far as updating the web site before the reunion, the only big thing is that I retired two years ago and I’ve enjoyed breaking the tyranny of schedules and deadlines (including this one?).

I’m still an avid skier and golfer, although I’m more partial to groomed slopes and forward tees.

In my last years as the Dean of the Graduate School at The University of Montana, I became more involved in the support of Native American and International Students and have developed strong ties with many of them.  I’m currently a Board Member of the Missoula International Friendship Program that pairs International students with Community Members for various formal and informal activities and events.

My wife Linda and I have just rescued a bloodhound puppy that we are training for search and rescue.  She is a bundle of energy and it’s difficult to keep up with her. Linda plans to retire this year.

My daughter Laura still lives in Eugene, OR and works for an independent film company that  makes primarily educational films.

Wisconsin High School

55^th Reunion – July 24 – 25, 2015

BIO:        David Strobel

Received:  July 1, 2015

If you’re having difficulty getting a timely response to the request for updates, it could be in part due to the universality of retirement we may be experiencing.  I retired in 2008, as Dean of the Graduate School at the University of Montana, and didn’t think much about retirement.  I actually loved my job and was just beginning to grasp the details of mastering some of the nuances of the position.  Nevertheless, when the time came I reluctantly moved on.  Now the major thing about retirement, as most of you well know, suddenly time stands on its head.  There are no more scheduling pressures, tasks to complete, and deadlines to meet (including this one).  Suddenly there is incredible freedom without stress.  The only important thing to control is keeping active and enjoying the freedoms we now have.

Retirement has provided more time for sporting activities, including skiing, golf, and curling.  My wife, Linda, and I live only a few minutes from Snow Bowl and our season passes allow us to ski on the best days each year.  I have a seasons pass at Larchmont, a really excellent public golf course.  In 2010 we were able to partner with Glacier Ice Rink to start a Curling Club in Missoula.  I’ve been Vice President of the Club ever since.  We built a membership of over 120 curlers and are still growing.  Each year we train about 1,600 High School kids.  Last winter we hosted a Bonspiel that brought in 40 teams all over the North West and Canada.  I’ve had the great pleasure of running into Judy Siebecker on a couple of occasions when she brought her kids over to Missoula for Hockey Tournaments.

I’m having great fun playing with electronics in retirement.  I was one of the first to get hooked on 3D printing.  I currently have 3 printers and a 4th on the way (a Kickstarter project).  I have several microprocessors and accessories for hacking, IoT, and robotics.  I am an advisor for a Robotics Club in Middle School in Missoula.  I have three drones, which the kids love.

I’ve maintained an interest in college students from other countries and am an Board Member and Treasurer of the Missoula International Friendship Program.  We pair international students with community friends for fun, entertainment, and cultural exchange.

I’m on the Board of the University of Montana Retirees Association where we plan and host a plethora of activities for retirees of the institution.

Finally, Linda and I have retired from Breed Rescue of Bloodhounds.  We still have four of the critters, but have no plans to take on additional dogs.  What other people have done to these animals, has finally taken its toll on us.

This has become a tome, sorry.  It is clear to me that everything in life so far can be traced to friends and experiences at Wisconsin High School.  We were extraordinarily lucky to have been given those propitious foundational experiences.  Sorry I won’t be at the reunion, but I love you all and look forward to your report.

Wisconsin High School
60th Reunion – September 17, 2020 – Via ZOOM

BIO: Dave Strobel
Received: 8/26/20

I haven’t seen bio updates since our last reunion, but It’s likely some or all of us are struggling with the normal aging process, a pandemic virus that is differentially attacking our age group, and a political climate that challenges us all. There’s good reason to be uniformly depressed and a struggle to find and maintain a positive view of the present and the future. However, the answer to life in this kind of struggle has always been to maintain a good sense of humor. Well folks, the joke’s on us once again.
Every time I meet a friend of my age group, the funny thing is that all we talk about is our health; how many surgeries we’ve had, are we recovering or not, and what activities have we canceled. I can imagine we all can contribute hours to it (BORING). The problem with retirement is that everything falls apart, and we are quickly becoming cyborgs with the eventual elimination of all human tissue. For some it is a war against pain. I never thought the nearer to the end would be so uncomfortable. It’s a dirty rotten joke on us all. Of course, some of you might be in great shape. I hate you all.

Motion is lotion, so our therapists say. However, they forgot to tell you that motion requires more pain. Undoubtedly, you can get really, I mean really, really busy and you can forget some of the pain. Unfortunately, everyday tasks seem to get more difficult, and your memory begins to fail. Actually, it’s not your memory, per se, but the recall functions of your brain. The memory can still be there, but it takes longer to get it back into consciousness. By the way, if any of you can explain quantum theory of consciousness, I would like to hear it. My brother Roger who lives in Missoula and graduated with a degree in Physics, can’t recall.

My wife, Linda, has been able to cope with the aging process by not trying to explain anything. She says she knows things (including a quantum theory of consciousness), but doesn’t need to explain it to anyone else. She just “knows” it. Knowing seems to be the opposite of motion as far as the brain is concerned. Actually, she knows and can explain the origins of her pains in great detail.

So, I’m wondering what we’re going to talk about when we’re Zooming. I’m thinking we should all come with a good joke so that the existential nature of the reunion doesn’t overwhelm us all . . .just kidding.

I’m looking forward to seeing, but not recognizing anyone. Bring your old High School voice.