Vera (Dobler) Knodel Strobel -- 1998

       Vera (Dobler) Knodel Strobel, nearly 92, died of cancer at the home of her daughter Janette and husband Gene Amman on Saturday, Aug. 22, 1998.
       Vera was born Aug. 31, 1906, to Christian Dobler Jr. and Sophia Grosshans in the Globeville district of Denver.
       From age one to six Vera lived on a homestead near Winner, Tripp County, SD, near Sophia's father.  From age 8 to 10 they lived on a farm near Kellerton, Iowa.  In 1916 Chris and Sophia homesteaded near Lake Charles, La.
       A hurricane in 1918 destroyed their homestead. Vera's mother died in December 1921 and in 1922 her father moved his family to Stockham, Neb., to live among her mother's people, the Grosshans.
       While visiting her father's family in the German-Russian Settlement at Bethune, she met Gottlieb (Jim) Knodel, a widower.  In 1930 she married Jim and became stepmother to Esther and Ruby Knodel.  To this union were born Jeanette, Paul and Alice.  Jim died in 1942 at the age of 43.
       In 1959 Vera married widower Christ Strobel Jr. of Lodi, Calif., where she became stepmother to Clarence, Robert, Violet, Virginia, Beverly and June.  Chris was deaf so Vera became his "ears" and he her inspiration.  They enjoyed many good years together.
       From 1990 until her death on Aug. 22, 1998, Vera made her home in Ogden, Utah, with Gene and Jeanette.
       Vera is survived by all of her children, stepchildren and their spouses.  There are also many grandchildren.
       Vera loved life and never gave up her quest for knowledge. She loved to travel, in reality and also by reading books.  She was interested in history, natural science and botany.  She loved to grow plants and had quite a "green thumb." She had a remarkable memory and was very interested in people.  She liked music and studied and sang the hymns of her forefathers.  As a young mother, she sang songs popular at the time, and she whistled while she worked.
       Vera taught her children tolerance for other people's points of view and an appreciation of other races and religions.  She believed that we are all God's children and there is room for all.
       Like her ancestors, she was strong and [tenancious] tenacious.  Being a granddaughter of Christian Dobler Sr., a pioneer in the Settlement, she felt a deep connection to the area.  Family was extremely important to her.  Growing up far from relatives, she and Art prized and counted their Nebraska and Colorado cousins.
       In coming home to the prairie and the church called Hope she is reunited with family and many others to whom she was linked by kinship and love.
       She touched the lives of many.  She lived by her religion, following the Golden Rule and the Ten Commandments.
       In life's many challenges she declared, "I will not be defeated!  Cast your bread upon the waters and it shall return to you."