Greg Neil Strombeck was born in Albany, Oregon on October 23, 1948, the first-born son of Owen and Mary Strombeck. He finished the race on a clear and sunny March 7th morning, at home in Keizer, surrounded by his family. He was 75 years young.

From the very beginning, Greg was an outdoorsman--hunting, fishing, and exploring--first the woods behind his childhood home in West Albany, and later the far-reaching corners of the globe. His exploration usually included his younger brother, Paul Strombeck, and a well-trained dog. Whether it was a duck blind with treasured friends, deer hunting in Eastern Oregon with his late father-in-law, or fly fishing with family on the Metolius, Greg was never happier than when he was in the wilderness.

The story goes that he was minding his own business in his 10th-grade typing class when he met Jan Vail. The rest, as they say, is history. Greg graduated in 1966 from Albany Union High School and later attended Oregon State University. He married Jan in 1967 and together they welcomed two daughters, Jennifer Reed and Melinda Majors. They built a life, a home, and a business. They were a formidable team in every way, and Greg's "girls" were his entire world.

Greg's career took him in many directions, but first and foremost he was a tradesman...a skilled and certified Electrician who never forgot what it meant to pick up the tools and tackle a job. His leadership talents and hands-on experience served him well for many years as a manager in the construction industry. His unique set of skills and business acumen made him an excellent fit at Oregon State University for the last 12 years before he retired. As a Construction Project Manager, he had the opportunity to work on campus, to mentor young interns in Construction Engineering, and to keep an eye on his beloved Beavers. It is fair to say that Greg bled Oregon State Orange and this position was tailor-made for him. He was much celebrated and retired from Oregon State in 2014.

Greg is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jan; daughters Jennifer Reed (Richard) of Albany, and Melinda Majors (Randy) of Tigard; grandsons David Brooks (Dallas), Kaelen Reed, Ryan Majors, and Carter Majors; and great-granddaughter Delaney Brooks. His inner circle included his sisters Kathy Strombeck and Lori Strombeck, brother Paul Strombeck (Denise), and sister-in-law Jacque Phillippe (Matt), as well as beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins, and countless friends.

Greg never let Parkinson's define him and, in the end, he did not surrender to Parkinson's but rather he wrote his own definition of what it meant to live with grace & dignity. He led by example and always said, "I have Parkinson's, but Parkinson's doesn't have me." Contributions to the Michael J. Fox Foundation in Greg's honor would be much appreciated by his family. A celebration of life will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, March 23, at McNary Estates Golf Club. Please come and celebrate the life of a truly remarkable man, and please feel free to share any memories of Greg or stories about him.

Smile when you think of Greg, remember the way he made you feel, be kind to one another,

...and of course, Go Beavs!