Eugene Strobel, age 82, of Gary, MN, died Friday, September 29, 2017 in his home. Eugene (Gene) Eric Strobel was born to Eric and Edith (Anderson) Strobel on Dec. 14, 1934 in Eureka, South Dakota. Gene graduated from high school in 1952 in Boman, North Dakota. Growing up knowing that Strobel's become either farmers, teachers or, nurses – Gene decided to join the army. Following his honorable discharge in 1956, he earned his bachelor of science in Civil Engineering from NDSU. In 1960 he met, fell in lifelong love with, and married Leona Rodriguez. Gene may have been born with the brain of an engineer, but he had the heart of an explorer. Gene and Leona began their life in St. Paul, MN where he worked for Burlington Northern, and their first daughter Elena was born. Then a brief stint in California working for American Bridge & Steel, and then on to Cheyenne, Wyoming working for the government building the minute man silos. It was in Cheyenne that Christopher was born. From there, it was off to Ankara, Turkey, taking on his first oil company job. After two years there, the family moved to Saudi Arabia where he worked for Aramco Oil for 27 years building oil refineries, off shore drilling rigs, and the like. It was also in here that the twins Lisa and Eric were born. Gene loved all the usual manly pursuits such as fishing, hunting and camping – but he was also an excellent amateur photographer. His family life is so well documented throughout the years through Gene's camera. He caught them in black and white, polaroid's as soon they came out, slides when that was the fashion, and in color on his last and favorite the Olympus M series camera. In 1984, Gene decided to retire from Aramco, move to Gary, MN, and start farming. According to Leona, this did not make them retired, it just made them tired. But he loved it. Gene milked cows and farmed for almost 20 years with his youngest son Eric. Gene is survived by his wife Leona of Gary, four children: Elena (Bradley) Thronson of Gary, Chris (Traci) Strobel of Mt. Prospect, IL, Eric Strobel of Gary, and Lisa (Dan) Green of Ashland, OH; two sisters: Lois (Don) Patzman and Marilyn Oen, both of Washington; grandchildren: Zachary (Tonya) Thronson, Tyra (Tim) Jambois, Shayla (Matthew Wojtas), Kellen, & Tanner Strobel, Jade (Rich) Ihry, and Ceara (Tim) Gunderson; along with 6 great-grandchildren, and cousin Carolyn Strobel of Menno,SD. He is preceded in death by his parents, Eric and Edith Strobel. Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at 2:00 pm in St. William Catholic Church, Twin Valley, MN. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 3, from 5:00-7:00 pm, with a time of sharing beginning at 6:00 pm, at the Anderson Family Funeral Home, Twin Valley. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.