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Jim and Sandy live
on a very beautiful secluded ten acres out of Cherry Grove, which Jim
found and bought in 1969. They lived in a small mobile home on the
property until Thanksgiving of 1978 when they moved into their new house
on that property that Jim, with the help of family and friends, built
for them.
Jim was born in
Portland in December 19, 1946. When he was about twelve he moved to
Buxton. He went to Banks High School. Jim and Sandy met the summer
after Sandy graduated when they both worked at Sunset in Banks. Jim has
an Associates Degree in Electronics.
He also has a very
interesting family history. When you drive to Seaside on Highway 26,
just past the Vernonia Junction, there is “Strassel Road” named after
his family. His great-grandmother and her three sons immigrated from
Bavaria during the Prussian Was and settled on eighty acres in Buxton.
Great Grandfather, who was to follow later, was killed in the war so
great-grandmother had to carry on alone.
Sandy was born at
Scoggins Valley and went to Gaston Grade School and Forest Grove High
School. Then she went to Oregon College of Education (Monmouth). She
majored in Elementary Education which included five years of Art
Education.
They were married on
January 14, 1970 and have two children:
-
Melanie Strassel
lives in Seattle and was born October 6, 1974.
-
Julie Strassel was
born January 14, 1978, lives in Forest Grove and is mechanical like
her Dad. She works for Dyke’s Machinery.
Jim and Sandy each
own and operate their own businesses. Jim has a shop to die for on
their property and builds industrial equipment, repair work, or any
other project asked of him. He serves one or two main customers and
various others.
Jim’s previous work
career is varied and many, a few of which are Sunset Packing in Banks,
Flavorland in Forest Grove, and “Old Trapper” smoked beef and jerky.
Sandy’s work,
education, and hobby careers have been equally varied. She and friends
organized a company, “Artback Arts studio”, and they sponsor art show
and presentations commercially.
Sandy worked at:
-
J.C. Penney’s a
year and one half.
-
Forest Grove
National Bank for six and one half years.
-
Substituted four
years as a teacher.
- 1988-1990
taught full time at “Visitation” at Verboort.
- Taught art at
“Valley Arts” in Forest Grove. Was Education Chair at Valley Arts in
2003.
- Taught and
exhibited at Main Street Art Gallery, Hillsboro.
- “Artist in
Residence” in several schools in and after school program.
- 1996-1997
worked at “Swallow Tail School”, a grade school in Gales Creek
teaching arts, dance, science, math and phonics.
HOBBIES: Jim and
Sandy love what they do, and love being self-employed. Jim dabbles in
photography when he has time. They also love square dancing and round
dancing and are very active in their dance club. Sandy also loves
various other dances; modern, jazz, aerobics, bell ballet, folk, and
Eurythmy Liturgical.
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