Douglass "Doug" Strubbe

Douglas “Doug” Strubbe passed away on December 25, 2025, after a courageous and determined battle with cancer. He was born on November 20, 1960, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Virginia Wheeler Strubbe, an opera singer, and David Felwich Strubbe, who worked in radio advertising. From the very beginning, music, storytelling, and curiosity shaped Doug’s life.

Doug spent his early childhood in Cincinnati, where his fondest memories were holidays spent with family, especially with his cousins Bill, Mary, Chuck, Betsy, Nancy, and Laura. He loved visiting Carillon Historical Park with his mother, enjoying picnic lunches on the grass at the foot of the bells while his father was at work. Those simple, quiet moments stayed with him throughout his life. Later, when the family moved to Michigan, Doug proudly carried memories of his father coaching his Little League baseball team, another experience he spoke of often and with pride.

Doug’s life took him many places. From Cincinnati to Dayton, New York, Michigan, and finally Florida, each place became part of the story he loved to tell. He attended Seminole High School in Florida and, after graduation, began working at WWQT, a small radio station that would later become the Home Shopping Network. As HSN grew into national television, Doug grew with it, eventually becoming Director of Master Control, the steady, unseen presence behind everything viewers saw on air.

It was there that Doug met the love of his life, Jeannette. She worked on set as a show coordinator, while Doug worked behind the scenes in a soundproof master control room. Their communication during live broadcasts happened through headsets. One day, when Jeannette mentioned how cold it was on set, Doug stepped out of master control, meeting her face to face for the first time—wearing his Detroit Tigers jacket, which he gently placed around her shoulders. They spent the rest of the day talking endlessly about Michigan, Detroit, where Doug had lived before moving to Florida, and everything in between. Without either of them realizing it, their lives changed in that moment.

Doug and Jeannette were married on June 14, 1987. In marrying Jeannette, Doug also married into a ready-made family: Terry (14), Timmy (11), and Jennifer (6). Doug embraced them fully and lovingly, giving each child a nickname that stuck for life. Terry, always working out and loving banana nut mini muffins, became “Mr. Muffins.” Timmy was known for being unable to pass a mirror without stopping to admire himself. Jennifer was “Smurf,” and she loved listening to Doug share his encyclopedic knowledge of music. In Doug’s final days, Jennifer chose the music played at his bedside, with the final song being his favorite, “Free Bird.”

In 1991, Doug returned to Michigan and began a new chapter working in heating and cooling. No matter what he did, Doug worked hard and gave his best.

Doug was a devoted grandfather. His grandson Devan, affectionately known as “Devo,” shared a special bond with Papa. Together, they put on silly “roast beef” skits. One of the reasons roast beef appears on luncheon menu. They collected wood for cottage campfires, and in later years, whenever Doug needed a car repaired or inspected, it went straight to Devan, because Doug trusted him to scrutinize every detail from top to bottom. His granddaughter Shyanne, lovingly nicknamed “Worm,” shared countless joyful moments with Doug, from carving pumpkins, complete with funny faces and playful chatter, to singing like rockstars, with Doug strumming a broom as a guitar while Shyanne sang into a mop. They also enjoyed many bike and motorbike rides around the lake subdivision, memories that will be cherished forever.

Doug was a partner in every sense of the word. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His love of music was legendary. He was fondly known as “Casey Kasem” and “Dougie Style.” Doug knew rock and roll inside and out: the artists, the songs, the stories behind them, the albums, the band members, the instruments they played, the album covers, and the years they were produced. He should have been a radio DJ and in many ways, he always was.

Doug also loved history and learning. He could talk to anyone because he truly listened. He especially enjoyed visiting cemeteries, particularly small, remote ones, fascinated by the stories told through headstones. One inscription moved him deeply, and it reflected the thoughtful way he lived his life:

“Remember friends as you pass by, Where you stand now, so once did I. As I am now, so you will be. Prepare for death and follow me.”

In 2024, Doug faced cancer with strength and determination, enduring difficult treatments and ringing the bell on December 30, 2024, believing the cancer was gone. When it returned in 2025, Doug continued to face it with courage and grace until his body could no longer keep up with his spirit.

Doug had a bucket list. At the top was visiting his cousins in Cincinnati, followed by a trip to the observatory while there, and taking a family trip to Hocking Hills, where he knew his children would have loved every moment. Though he did not complete every item, Doug completed what mattered most, loving deeply and being deeply loved.

Doug chose the music for his service himself. His favorite song, “Free Bird,” spoke to his soul, especially the opening lyrics: “If I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me?” A question that will forever be answered with a resounding yes. His second song, “Spirit in the Sky,” written in fifteen minutes and perfected over six months, reflected his belief that some things are worth taking time to get just right.

Doug and Jeannette wrote his obituary and this tribute together. This was one final act that perfectly captures who he was: thoughtful, prepared, loving, and deeply connected to those around him.

Doug is survived by his loving wife, Jeannette; son Terry (Christine) Crandall; daughter, Jenniffer Crandall; grandchildren, Shayanne Crandall, Angelina Crandall, Dylan Crandall, and Devan (Kelly) Crandall; and great grandson Grayson Crandall; as well as many nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.

Doug was preceded in death by sons, Michael Douglas Strubbe and Timothy Michael Crandall.

In accordance with Doug’s wishes, cremation is to take place. A memorial gathering celebrating his life will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Fern Hill Golf Club, 17600 Clinton River Rd, Clinton Township, MI 48038.