Jasper Indiana Strassenfest

July 30- August 2, 2026

  • Jasper Indiana Strassenfest
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  • Behind The Fest
    • History
      • Historical Outline
      • Past Hoffmarschalls, Chairpersons, Hosts & Hostesses, and Special Guests
      • Past Miss/Junior Miss Strassenfest
      • Past Miss Strassenfest 1979-2009
      • Past Little Miss/Little Mister Strassenfest
  • Booth Guide & Map
    • Foodie Map
  • Events & Entertainment
    • Strassenfest Pageant
    • Events Schedule
    • German Heritage and Family Fun
    • Entertainment
    • Bier Garten
    • Parade
  • Half Pot
  • Sponsors
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Past Hoffmarschalls, Chairpersons, Hosts & Hostesses, and Special Guests

1979Strassenfest Queen: Beckie Bartley Knust
Chairperson: Charles Stenftenagel
1980Host & Hostess: Dan & Linda Wehr
Strassenfest Queen: Jan Huther Hipp
Chairperson: Charles Stenftenagel
1981Special Guest: Ronald McDonald from McDonald’s
Host & Hostess: Dan & Linda Wehr
Strassenfest Queen: Dr. Brenda Stenftenagel Jardenil
Chairperson: Steve Stallings
1982Host & Hostess: Gary & Rita Egler
Strassenfest Queen: Abby Durcholz Brelage
Chairperson: Steve Stallings
1983Special Guest: Bob Domine – WAVE TV from Louisville
Host & Hostess: Ron & Laverne Kieffner
Strassenfest Queen: Diane Buechlein Brescher
Chairperson: Mike Hoffman
1984Special Guest: Cabby O’Neill – 1949 JHS State Basketball Champ Coach
Host & Hostess: Ron & Laverne Kieffner
Strassenfest Queen: Angie Terwiske Hochgesang
Chairperson: Mike Hoffman
1985Grand Marshal: Dr. William DeVries-Heart Surgeon for Bill Schroeder (2nd Artifical Heart Recipient)
Special Guest: Bill Schroeder & Family
Host & Hostess: Lowell & Joan Glendening
Strassenfest Queen: Kelley Dilger Coppens
Chairperson: Dr. Nancy Otte
1986Grand Marshals: The Budweiser Clydesdales
Special Guests: Dr. John Lukemeyer – Local Physician
Host & Hostess: Bob & Carol Verkamp
Strassenfest Queen: Shelley Leinenbach Uebelhor
Chairperson: Dr. Nancy Otte
1987Guest Host: Herman Kiefer – Jasper Fire Marshalls
Special Guests: Fritz & Brigitte Gutgsell & Pfaffenweiler residents
Host & Hostess: Bob & Carol Verkamp
Strassenfest Queen: Kelli Helming Kunkel
Chairperson: Rick Stradtner
1988Guest Host: Jack Newton – Former Mayor of Jasper
Special Guest: Dr. Jurgen Ruhfus – West German Ambassador to the U.S.
Host & Hostess: Bob & Carol Verkamp
Strassenfest Queen: Cara Roeder Pierce
Chairperson: Rick Stradtner
1989Guest Host: Alvin Ruxer
Special Guests: 1949 JHS State Basketball Champs (40th Anniversary)
Host & Hostess: Fred & Pat Hollinden
Strassenfest Queen: Dr. Lesley Flannagan Kizior
Chairperson: Bob Verkamp
1990Grand Marshals: Dr. and Mrs. Klaus Schraymeyer – German General Council
Guest Host: Cecile Klamer-Community Volunteer
Host & Hostess: Fred & Pat Hollinden
Strassenfest Queen: Laura Conner Seng
Chairperson: Bob Verkamp
1991Grand Marshal: Mary Jo Meuser – JHS German Teacher and promoter of German Exchange Program
Guest Hosts: Fr. Thad Sztuckzko and Lillian Doane
Host & Hostess: Norb & Doris Kreilein
Strassenfest Queen: Jennifer Tunks Olinger
Chairperson: Linda Letterman
1992Grand Marshal: Dr. Detlof von Berg – German General Counsel
Guest Hostess: Ruth Buechler – Historian & Museum Owner
Host & Hostess: Norb & Doris Kreilein
Strassenfest Queen: Amy Merder Buechlein
Chairperson: Linda Letterman
1993Grand Marshals: Clarence and Henrietta Buechler
Host & Hostess: Dave & Brenda Buehler
Strassenfest Queen: Amy Uebelhor
Chairperson: Gil Eckerle
1994Grand Marshals: The Pfaffenweiler Accordian Club, The Pfaffenweiler Traditional Costume Dance Group, and the Budweiser Clydesdales team from New Hampshire
Host & Hostess: Dave & Brenda Buehler
Strassenfest Queen: Gretchen Himsel Derazi
Chairperson: Gil Eckerle
1995Theme: “Rock Around the Clock”
Grand Marshals: Stan and Mary Jane Krempp – Aristokraft Entrepreneur
Host & Hostess: Dave & Nancy Prechtel
Strassenfest Queen: Nikki Hudson Finelli
Chairperson: Ron Kieffner
1996Theme: “Jasper Volunteer Fire Department: 100 Years of Service”
Grand Marshal: Archbishop Daniel Buechlein -5th Archbishop of Indianapolis and Dubois County native
Special Guests: JHS State Baseball Champs
Host & Hostess: Dave & Nancy Prechtel
Strassenfest Queen: Stacey Letterman Williams
Chairperson: Ron Kieffner
1997Theme: “150 Year Anniversary of Pfaffenweiler Emigration”
Grand Marshal: Fr. Robert Greene – POW and Missionary of China and Jasper native
Special Guests: JHS State Baseball Champs
Host & Hostess: Dan & Sharon Hoffman
Strassenfest Queen: Tara Kieffner Popp
Chairperson: Kim Lottes
1998Theme: “100 Years of Jasper High School “
Grand Marshal: Bob & Josie Siebert – Entrepreneur of Siebert’s Clothing Store
Special Guests: JHS State Baseball Champs, Snail Valley Alpine Horn Players, and Sister City Group from Pfaffenweiler
Host & Hostess: Dan & Sharon Hoffman
Strassenfest Queen: Jami Arvin Seifert
Chairperson: Kim Lottes
1999Theme: “Preserving the Past, Celebrating the Present, Looking to the Future”
Grand Marshal: Claude and Martina Eckert – Initiated Jasper/Pfaffenweiler Partnership Commission
Special Guests: JHS Back-to-Back National Champion Cheerleaders, Wassenberg Dance Group from Vincennes Sister City , and Wagshurst Band from Celestine’s sister city
Host & Hostess: Raphael & Phyllis Ackerman
Strassenfest Queen: Dr. Kelly Flannagan Young
Chairperson: Bob Disinger
2000Theme: “Bridging the Past with the Future”
Grand Marshal: DaveBuehler – Buehler Foods Entrepreneur
Special Guests: Ruth and Eberhard Reichmann – Sister City Organizers/Supporters
Host & Hostess: Raphael & Phyllis Ackerman
Strassenfest Queen: Kelly Craig Schaefer
Chairperson: Bob Disinger
2001Theme: “Celebrating Service to Our Community”
Sub Theme: “50 th Anniversary of Memorial Hospital “
Grand Marshal: Bernie Vogler – Local business owner and Huge Jasper supporter
Host & Hostess: Darren & Ann Patterson
Strassenfest Queen: Hannah Woebkenberg
Chairperson: Gene Kuntz
2002Theme: “Our Children-Our Future”
Grand Marshal: Frank Ebenkamp-Jasper’s oldest cheerleader and supporter of Jasper
Special Guests: 2001 JHS State Football Champions
Host & Hostess: Darren & Ann Patterson
Strassenfest Queen: Elizabeth Gramelspacher Flatt
Chairperson: Gene Kuntz
2003Theme: “25 th Annual Strassenfest”
Grand Marshal: Charles Stenftenagel – First Jasper Strassenfest Chairman
Special Guests: First Strassenfest Committee
Host & Hostess: Dan & Kathy Gutgsell
Strassenfest Queen: Janelle Spellmeyer Feltman
Chairperson: Angie Erny
2004Theme: “125 Years of the Railroad in Jasper / Opening of the New Train Depot”
Grand Marshal: Steffi Keusch
Host & Hostess: Dan & Kathy Gutgsell
Strassenfest Queen: Dr. Gabby Schmitt
Chairperson: Angie Erny
2005Theme: “15 th Anniversary of Sister Cities Partnership”
Grand Marshals: Franz and Baerbel Hilger
Host & Hostess: Bob & Sharon Dilger
Strassenfest Queen: Amanda Brockman
Chairperson: Al Keller
2006Theme: “A Tribute to Jasper’s Woodworking Tradition”
Grand Marshal: Phil Gramelspacher – Representative of Jasper Desk Company
Host & Hostess: Bob & Sharon Dilger
Strassenfest Queen: Emily Luebbehusen Young
Chairperson: Al Keller
2007Theme: “Born of Rich Soil”
Grand Marshal: Jim Peter
Host & Hostess: Virgil & Judy Gress
Strassenfest Queen: Kristin Weidenbenner
Chairperson: Ron Flick
2008Theme: “Hoosier Hospitality-German Style’
Grand Marshal: Dan Wehr
Host & Hostess: Virgil & Judy Gress
Strassenfest Queen: Caitlyn Brick
Chairperson: Ron Flick
2009Theme: “Danke Schoen”
Grand Marshals: Matthias and Kathy Hilger
Host & Hostess: Al & Judy Bennett
Strassenfest Queen: Sarah Thyen
Chairperson: Bridgette Jarboe
2010Theme: “Partnerschaft”
Grand Marshals: Leo and Lora Lou Eckerle
Host & Hostess: Al & Judy Bennett
Strassenfest Queen: Allie Beckman
Chairperson: Bridgette Jarboe
2011Theme: “Living, Giving, Growing…Together”
Grand Marshal: Mayor William J. Schmitt
Host & Hostess: Birnie & Margie Jeffries
Strassenfest Queen: Hannah Burgess
Chairperson: Meredith Voegerl
2012Theme: “Celebrating Our German Heritage with American Pride”
Grand Marshal: Paul Knies
Host & Hostess: Birnie & Margie Jeffries
Strassenfest Queen: Charlotte Olson
Chairperson: Meredith Voegerl
2013Theme: “Celebrating 35 Years of Food, Fun, and Memories”
Grand Marshal: Patti Goepfrich
Host & Hostess: Bridget and Mike Bartley
Strassenfest Queen: Mallory Humbert
Chairperson: Derrick Bair
2014Theme: “Alive with the Arts”
Grand Marshal: Tom Schum
Host & Hostess: Bridget and Mike Bartley
Strassenfest Queen: Annie Stenftenagel
Chairperson: Derrick Bair
2015Theme: “Sister Cities”
Grand Marshals: Karin Horst (Pfaffenweiler)/Stan Jochum (Jasper)
Host & Hostess: Ann & Mike Ackerman
Strassenfest Queen: Camille Ruff
Chairperson: Andrea Gramelspacher
2016Theme: “Celebrating 150 years of Indiana, German Style”
Grand Marshals: Dave & Janet Kluemper
Host & Hostess: Ann & Mike Ackerman
Strassenfest Queen: Vanessa Hickman
Chairperson: Andrea Gramelspacher
2017Theme: “Celebrating Tradition! Building Our Future”
Grand Marshal: Ron Flick
Host & Hostess: Steve and Barb Schmitt
Strassenfest Queen: Kara Skorge
Chairperson: Mike Ackerman
2018Theme: “40 Years of Memories…The Best Is Yet to Come”
Grand Marshal: Initial Strassenfest Committee from 1979
Host & Hostess: Steve and Barb Schmitt
Strassenfest Queen: Hannah Rydberg
Chairperson: Mike Ackerman
2019Theme: “Indiana Chamber Community of the Year”
Grand Marshal: Brenda Stallings
Host & Hostess: Van & Nancy Ziegler
Strassenfest Queen: Lydia Shepherd
Chairperson: Kim Lottes
2020Theme: “Celebrating Jasper’s Commitment to Higher Education”
Grand Marshal: Dan Fritch
Host & Hostess: Van & Nancy Ziegler
Strassenfest Queen: N/A (No festival due to COVID)
Chairperson: Kim Lottes
2021Theme: “A Cultural Experience”
Grand Marshal: Jim & Pat Thyen
Host & Hostess: Paul & Mary Leah Siegel
Strassenfest Queen: Kate Stemle
Chairperson: Bob Bleemel
2022Theme: “A Great German Time”
Grand Marshal: Jim & Rita Corn
Host & Hostess: Paul & Mary Leah Siegel
Strassenfest Queen: Ava Collins
Chairperson: Bob Bleemel
2023Theme: “Strong Roots Grow Strong Towns”
Grand Marshal: ROJAC (Redevelop Old Jasper Action Coalition) Board
Hosts: Landen Weidenbenner and Brandon Ferguson
Strassenfest Queen: Darby Patton
Chairperson: Laura Grammer
2024Theme: “German Flair on the Square”
Grand Marshal: Greater Jasper Downtown Merchants
Hosts: Landen Weidenbenner and Brandon Ferguson
Strassenfest Queen: Brianna Williams
Chairperson: Laura Grammer
2025Theme: “40th Anniversary of the Jasper/Pfaffenweiler Sister Cities Partnership”
Grand Marshal: Lois Kunz and Diana Treyer – Sister Cities Partnership
Hosts: Laura & Paul Grammer
Strassenfest Queen: Grace Bartley
Chairperson: Corie Eckerle

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Please, NO PETS at the fest, except at pet-themed events.

However, designated service animals only, are always welcome.

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Some photos courtesy of the Dubois County Herald