Obituary of Lyle Ernest Strassle

Lyle Ernest Strassle, 80, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, died at home over the Thanksgiving weekend, 2023.

Lyle was born December 31,1942 in Salamanca, NY to the late Gilbert and Irene (Green) Strassle. He attended UCLA and graduated from RIT with an emphasis in electrical engineering after which he served for two years in the US Army Reserves.

As a young man, he worked as a ski instructor and on ski patrol at Bristol Mountain in Canandaigua, NY.

Lyle’s career progressed in construction management both in New England and later in NC. After special training in Milan, he oversaw the construction of the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway in Franconia, New Hampshire. After his family left Cape Elizabeth, Maine, he worked with Clancy and Theys in Raleigh and contributed to the construction of the American Tobacco Campus in Durham, East Chapel Hill High School, and Christ United Methodist Church in Southern Village. He was also proud of his work on the Bioinformatics Building at UNC. Lyle expressed particular satisfaction in a life’s work with such tangible results.

Beyond his work, he found joy in his family. He was loyal and kind, a thoughtful family man with staunch integrity. He loved jazz, dogs, sailing, cars, and Formula One racing. He combined his professional expertise with his personal life when he renovated the historic Harper House in Wilmington, NC with his wife, Sara. There they celebrated many family holidays with their children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Suzanne Carter Strassle and his sister, Judy Strassle James. Lyle is survived by his wife, Sara Brooks Strassle; children Karen Elizabeth Skoglund (John) and Ryan Gilbert Strassle; stepchildren Rachel Catherine Campbell (Chris) and Anna Brooks Creagh (Theo Slater); grandchildren Devin and Gwyneth Skoglund; step grandchildren Adam and Catherine Campbell. He is also survived by his sister, Susan Strassle McPherson.

Visitation with family on Sunday, December 3, 2023, begins at 10:30 AM followed by a memorial service at 11:00 at Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cape Fear Literacy Council, 1012 S. 17th St, Wilmington NC 28401. www.cfliteracy.org.