Larry J. Stroble

Larry J. Stroble

66, of Indianapolis, passed away on March 26, 2015. Larry was born February 2, 1949 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Indiana University in 1971, and served in the Indiana Air National Guard from 1971 to 1977. In 1976, He received a Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana University and his law degree from what is now the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Upon admission to the Indiana bar in 1976, He joined Barnes, Hickam Pantzer & Boyd (which later became Barnes & Thornburg) as an associate attorney in the firm's tax department.  He was elected to the firm's partnership in 1983, and led the firm as a member of its Management Committee beginning in 1991 and later as its Managing Partner from 1993 through 1997.  His four years as firm managing partner started it on a path of innovation and growth with the opening of its Chicago office in 1995.  He chaired the firm's Corporate Department from 1997 through 2001, and continued to serve as a leader in the tax bar until his retirement in 2013. He practiced state, local and federal income tax law for nearly 40 years with Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Indianapolis. His low-key style, keen intellect and wry sense of humor were the hallmarks of his personal and professional relationships.

As a lawyer, he was a vigorous advocate for taxpayers in controversies before the Internal Revenue Service, state and local taxing authorities, and state and federal courts. He was a nationally recognized tax lawyer whose work lead to the creation of the Indiana Tax Court.  In 1990, he argued his first case before the United States Supreme Court, scoring a victory for Indianapolis Power & Light Company in a landmark decision.  His contributions to tax law were recognized by his peers, who elected him to the American College of Tax Counsel, and as a Fellow of the American Bar Association and of the Indiana Bar Foundation.  He chaired the Taxation Section of the Indianapolis Bar Association, and was active in the Taxation Sections of the American and Indiana State Bar Associations. The State Chamber honored him as its Volunteer of the Year in 2002, and The Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute chose him for a key role on its Board of Directors.  He chaired the Indiana State Bar Association's Liaison Committee with the Tax Court from 1986 through 2008.

A prolific writer on tax matters, he was the author of the Indiana chapter in the American Bar Association's Sales & Use Tax Deskbook and co-author of the Indiana chapter in the ABA's Property Tax Deskbook.  He was in demand as a speaker at continuing legal education seminars, sharing his knowledge with other lawyers across the country.  An avid reader, he maintained an extensive personal library of thousands of books.  Rarely could he be found without a book or newspaper with him at all times.  He also enjoyed running and competed in dozens of events over a 25 plus year span, including multiple Indiana Mini-Marathons and the Chicago Marathon in 1996  He is survived by his wife, Suzi Highlen Stroble; children, Mandi (Cory) Haffner, Ryan Stroble, Emily (Leo) Sze; grandchildren, Lydia, Vivian, Isla, Damien; parents, James and Evelyn Storble and brother, Lynn (Cathy) Stroble.

Visitation will be on Monday, April 6, 2015 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Flanner and Buchanan - Broad Ripple. Services will be on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 10 a.m. in the funereal center. 

Memorial gifts may be made to the IU Simon Cancer Center for pancreatic cancer research.  Please make checks payable to: IU Foundation and mail to IUF; P.O. Box 7072, Indianapolis, IN 46207-7072. Indicate "In memory of Larry Stroble" on the memo line.  You may also make donations online at cancer.iu.edu/giving. Online condolence may be made at: flannerbuchanan.com