Daniel Paul Strobel, age 40, of Chicago, Illinois, passed away following complications from Stage IV colon cancer on September 8, 2026. He was a beloved husband, son, brother, grandson, nephew, uncle, cousin, colleague, teacher, mentor, and friend to all who knew him.
Dan was born on May 19, 1986, in Columbus, Ohio, to Steve and Anne Strobel. The eldest of seven children, he loved and cherished his six siblings deeply. He graduated from Union Pines High School in 2004, where his classmates voted him “Best to Take Home to Parents.” Dan went on to attend North Carolina State University, earning a degree in journalism. After graduation, he wrote for a variety of magazines and newspapers and spent time teaching English in South Korea in 2012 and again in 2016. He moved to Chicago in 2017, where he built a career as a technical writer and editor in the technology industry, most recently at Motorola.
Dan found his greatest joy in time spent with the people he loved, playing and watching sports, listening to music, traveling, and being in the company of animals, who seemed instinctively drawn to his warmth and gentleness. Reserved, intelligent, and quietly charismatic, he had a way of making everyone around him feel at ease. He possessed a rare gift for saying everything that needed to be said in the fewest possible words. Dan was wise, sincere, curious, and entirely without judgment. He thought of others before himself and connected effortlessly with people of every age and walk of life. He will be remembered for his affable sense of humor, his gentlemanly demeanor, and his eternal optimism for Cleveland sports.
Dan is survived by his wife, Amira, and their beloved black cats, Kree and Ms. Girl; his parents, Steve and Anne Strobel of Sanford, North Carolina; his siblings, Samuel (the late Katie) Strobel, Emily (Arjun) Dias, Rebecca Strobel, Mary (Garrett) Jefferson, Tom Strobel, and Joseph Strobel of Sanford, North Carolina; his fifteen nieces and nephews; and his paternal grandmother, Joy Strobel of Durham, North Carolina, along with many of his loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Katie Strobel, his paternal grandfather Gary P. Strobel, and his maternal grandparents, William and Joan Stampfli.
A gathering for friends and family to share memories and pay respects will take place on Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Guild Row in Chicago, Illinois. All are welcome.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Southern Pines, North Carolina, on Wednesday, September 23, at 10:00 a.m., with private interment to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to PAWS Chicago: https://donate.pawschicago.org/danstrobel
To send flowers or plant a memorial tree in memory, please visit the flower store. Make a donation to PAWS Chicago in memory of Daniel Paul Strobel.
Online condolences may be made at www.BolesFuneralHome.com
Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.
