John Wilhelm Strobl

On Saturday February 11 ^th , 2023, John Wilhelm Strobl, beloved husband to his loving wife Barbara of 49 years, passed away at his favorite spot at the kitchen table where he spent hours reading and overlooking the beautiful Neuse River from their home. John was born on July 29th, 1940 to the late Hans and Gertrude Strobl at Lenox Hills Hospital in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City.  John was employed with Sheet Metal Workers Local 28 for 44 years.  He was a sheet metal worker who took pride in having been a part of the building of the Original World Trade Center-Twin Towers in New York City.

John was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, fishing (both freshwater and saltwater), hunting with both bow and guns in the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains of New York state. He even hiked Mt. Washington in NH.  Every Thanksgiving after a great meal, it was tradition for John to head to upstate New York for hunting.   John and Barbara loved to camp and frequented their cliff side property in Corea, Maine setting up camp to enjoy family visiting in all seasons. Aunt Barbara’s breakfasts, lobster, Bar Harbor trips, Cadillac Mountain visits,  and the small fishing village community were some of his favorite places.  John and Barbara journeyed to the Grand Canyon via Niagara Falls and enjoyed their cross county expedition, gathering great memories that they shared with family and friends for many years to come.

John loved classic and muscle cars and his Corvettes!  Always a down to earth man, everyone who knew him, respected him.  John loved all of his family and was always there to support them at a moment’s notice.  He was all about spending time with family, continuing family traditions and gatherings and was the rock that we all could lean on.   John will always be remembered for his love of Fireworks!! The annual displays at the 4 ^Th of July celebrations that he and Barbara hosted at their home for years were amazing!  Family and friends watched epic firework displays for hours!! John loved John Wayne and Clint Eastwood and all good that they stood for.  John loved this great country America and was a staunch supporter of the 2 ^nd Amendment.  John proudly served in the United States Army Reserves, obtaining the rank of E-6 prior to his ETS.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Hans and Gertrude Strobl and sister, Linda Strobl.  John leaves behind his wife, Barbara; his sister, Marion Flynn; brother-in-law, Richard Flynn; sister Karen, (David) Petricone; and brothers-in-law, Scott and Jeffrey Kramer.  John was a lifetime dog lover!  He loved his shelter dogs!!  He had a tough exterior, but those who knew him could always tell he was a softee with a heart of gold…Terra, Fudge, Harry, Totem, Sadie, Bandit, and Abby who remains to help Barbara through this difficult time.

His nieces loved their Uncle John!  We are so grateful that we have a lifetime of memories with him!  He instilled the love of the outdoors, nature and family traditions with us.  We remember hiking in the Adirondacks, with Uncle John, Aunt Barbara, Mom, Dad and seeing our first bear tracks, the beaver dam and then traveling home and stopping at a Creekside camp site to have a fire, snacks and enjoy the end of a long day!  The most wonderful Holidays spent at Uncle John’s included Thanksgiving with the 36-pound turkey that barley fit in the oven, Easter egg hunts, the yearly EPIC 4 ^Th of July parties, Christmas with the live tree that was so huge, it had to be cut down with a chain saw and his love of antique stores.  We will treasure all of these memories forever.  He is greatly missed by his four nieces, Christine (Rusty) Clark, Laura Flynn, Melissa (John) Zimmerly, and Nancie (Carl) Deckard.  John also leaves behind two great nephews, one great niece, and three great-great nephews.

A memorial service will be held Friday, February 17 ^th at 2 pm at Daniels-Sadler Funeral Home Chapel in Alliance, NC.  A brief Military Ceremony with Honors will be held on Monday, February 20 ^th at 12 Noon at the Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville, NC.