Daniel Straubel

Dr. Daniel Charles Straubel succumbed to injuries sustained in a single-vehicle accident May 14, 2008, on Lindy Road near Thompsonville, Mich. He was 72 years old.

The son of Anna and Willard Straubel, Dan was raised with eight brothers and sisters in a house just north of Frankfort, Mich., without running water and about the size of a two-car garage. Here his parents saw to it that hard work, education, family and the church were all part of his daily life. He began working when he was 11 years old as a caddie at nearby Crystal Downs Golf Course and paid for almost everything he had from that day forward. Hard work was his habit, but it quickly became clear that his intellect was his greatest asset.

After high school in Frankfort, Dan was awarded the prestigious Paul Oliver Memorial Scholarship and went on to earn a bachelor of arts and science with a dual major in mathematics and English and a minor in art from Central Michigan University. While attending Central he met Sandra Mead, of Benzonia, Mich., and they were married in 1960. After completing a master's at Central, he went on to earn a Doctorate of Philosophy in English from Kent State University and taught English and mass communication courses for more than 25 years as a full professor at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. Here he and Sandy raised two children, Danielle and Brendan.

Dr. Straubel retired in 1996 and moved back to northern Michigan in 2000 to be close to his children and grandchildren, all of whom now live less than 10 miles from his home on the Betsie River in northern Manistee county.

Throughout his life — but particularly in retirement — he was drawn to the arts, the outdoors and community service. He was an active member of Blaine Christian Church in Arcadia and of Habitat for Humanity, which he helped support with both money and sweat. He painted regularly, often displaying his work at Crystal Lake Art Center in Frankfort. And he surrounded himself with books, enjoying literature, history and journalism.

In the spring, he loved putting in his garden and hunting mushrooms. He hiked and kayaked and enjoyed the beach in the summer. In winter, he skied downhill and cross country and had a particularly good downhill season this past winter. There was an activity for every season, but golf was year round. He golfed locally from March to December, through sun and rain and wind and fog — even snow, earning him the nickname "all-weather Dan" at his favorite local course. He was particularly proud of the year during which he golfed in every month but February.

When he had to, he could also love his outdoor projects — battles with rocks and fences, weeds and water that never seemed to end. And he could enjoy tinkering with engines and implements when necessary. He declined to buy new equipment, preferring to tinker with his old mowers, tillers and tractors until they would sputter and smoke and finally start — just about every time they absolutely had to.

But it was with his grandchildren, Lucy, 6, and Rory, 12, that he was at his best. He would drop anything and everything for them. Drop it all to build catapults and kites, to tromp along the muddy edge of the river or right through the center of creeks and bogs. He read to them and he wrestled with them and painted with them and built with them and tore down with them. And he laughed and laughed with them. They thrived on his energy, love and creativity. And he on theirs.

The memories of "Grampa" will be the strongest and last the longest with them.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents and by his brothers, Robert, Eddie, Richard and John.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra, son Brendan, his wife Mary (Davidson) and their children Rory and Lucy and by a daughter, Danielle. He is also survived by his sisters, June (Benedict) and Mary Ann (Ron Sweet) and by his brothers, Jerry (Toni) and Jim.

A visitation is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Blaine Christian Church at the corner of Putney and Joyfield Roads in Benzie County, Mich., with a memorial service to follow at 11 a.m.

He was a friend of — and family requests that donations in lieu of flowers be directed to — Benzie County Habitat for Humanity, Crystal Lake Art Center and Blaine Christian Church. Jowett Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Benzonia, where beautiful ceremonies celebrate life, is handling the arrangements.