Lee Strohl Obituary

LAKESIDE - Lee Howells Strohl, M.D., 84, of Lakeside, Michigan passed away peacefully on June 27, 2025 at Woodland Terrace in Bridgman, Michigan where he had lived for six weeks.

Lee was born on March 26, 1941 to E. Lee Strohl, M.D. and Lavinia Morgan Howells who tragically died in childbirth. When Lee was an infant, his father was sent overseas to serve for five years in WW II, leaving Lee in Paris, Illinois with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. In 1946, Lee moved back to Chicago when his father returned from the war and married Margaret Perkins.

In Chicago, Lee attended the Harvard School for Boys where he was active in sports and on the Student Council. He was an undergraduate at Yale University where he sang for four years in the Yale Glee Club and graduated in 1963 with a B.A. in English. He then attended and graduated from Yale University Medical School in 1968 receiving his M.D. degree.

After completing a one-year internship at Northwestern University Medical School, Passavant Hospital, Lee was drafted into the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 1969. Captain Strohl, a Battalion Surgeon, was deployed to Vietnam and was assigned to the 5th Infantry Division, which was located in Quang Tri, four miles south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). His responsibilities there included caring for all personnel stationed there as well as treating wounded troops.

Lee's tour of duty in Vietnam ended in February 1971. He was awarded the Bronze Star for "Meritorious Achievement in Ground Action Against Hostile Forces." He proudly participated in the 1986 Vietnam Veterans Parade in Chicago and is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, Post 169. He was honored to serve his country and felt that his time in the army had a profound influence on the rest of his life. For years, Lee was the featured speaker at the annual Memorial Day celebration in Lakeside, Michigan.

Upon discharge, Lee moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where he met and married Karen S. Maatman and completed a 3 year residency in dermatology at the University of Michigan Hospital. Lee and Karen then moved to Chicago where he had a private medical practice and joined the Department of Dermatology at Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital as an Assistant Professor of Dermatology where he taught for 25 years. Lee also had offices in St. Joseph, Michigan, Niles, Michigan and LaPorte, Indiana. Lee retired from the practice of medicine in 2007 and moved permanently to his beloved family home in Lakeside, Michigan.

A gifted physician, Lee was dedicated to treating his patients with kindness, understanding and respect. He was revered by his patients who often said he was the "old-fashioned" kind of doctor who never rushed them, really listened, and spent a lot of time explaining his medical diagnoses.

Upon retirement, Lee was able to indulge in his many passions including walking his dogs, birdwatching, singing in the barbershop Lighthouse Chorus, reading about current events, savoring the abundant natural beauty of the area, collecting American clocks, philosophizing with neighbors and local shop keepers, researching family history, and enjoying visits with his daughter and grandson.

Lee was an "old school" gentleman whose impeccable manners, courtliness, stoicism and fine character were appreciated by all who encountered him. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his former wife of 46 years, Karen Strohl of Chicago; his daughter, Katherine Morgan Strohl and grandson, Ned Ashman Strohl of Ottawa, Illinois; brother, Kingman Perkins Strohl (Linda McIntosh)of Cleveland, OH; sister, Linda Keith Strohl of San Diego, CA; step siblings, Charles Greenleaf (Maureen Rooney) of Alexandria, VA, Marjorie (Paul) Vallière of Indianapolis, IN, and Cynthia Greenleaf (Jonathan Fanton) of Hamden, CT and several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

Lee was a member of Chikaming Country Club, Lakeside, MI and The Yale Club of New York City.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Sommerfeld Chapel, 15 N. Barton St., New Buffalo, Michigan. A funeral service will be held there on July 11, 2025 at 3:00 with visitation being at 2:00, one hour prior to the service. Lee will be laid to rest in the Lakeside Cemetery, followed by a gathering for all at Chikaming Country Club from 5 to 7pm.

Some may choose to make a donation in Lee's name, and the family suggests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the charity of one's choice, to Chikaming Open Lands, 12291 Red Arrow Hwy., Sawyer, MI 49125 or to The American Legion, Post 169, 19139 US Highway 12, New Buffalo, MI 49117.