RICHMOND, Texas — Joseph "Joe" Alan Strobel died June 14 in Richmond Texas, under Altus Harbor Hospice Care at the age of 71. He was born March 9, 1940, in Great Bend. He married Dot Shaner on June 3, 1961, at St. Rose Catholic Church in Great Bend. In 1971 Joe graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Kansas. His career started in Lawrence and then led him to Texas, Maryland and Saudi Arabia. His last job before his stroke was with FEMA. He truly loved his job.

Mr. Strobel belonged to the American Society of Civil Engineering both in San Antonio and Austin chapters. He retired in the hill country of Texas and was involved with Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and Wimberley Valley Habitat of Humanity.

He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Dot Strobel; daughter Shelle Hinkle and her husband Terry of Lewistown Mo.; two sons, John Strobel and his wife Lori of Wimberley, Texas, and Steven Strobel and his wife Kristen of Georgetown, Texas; six granddaughters, Megan, Amanda, Casey, Lauren, Morgan and Courtney; three grandsons, Ryan, Tyler and Cody; a sister, Rita Romine of Great Bend and her family; a sister-in-law, Karen Hilgers of Richmond, Texas and her family; a brother-in-law, Dale D. Shaner and his wife Karen of Great Bend; numerous relatives; and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Lillie Strobel; a brother Richard; a brother-in-law Karl Hilgers; his in-laws Dale and Ethel Shaner; and nephews Curtis, Keith and Kyle.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Wimberley, Texas. Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Altus Harbor Hospice 11233 Shadowcreek Parkway, Pearland, TX 77583 or the University of Kansas Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence KS, 66044.

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, June 17, 2011*