Dutch Strehle can already hear the laughs.

For nearly a quarter of a century, he’s remained low-key as the figure behind one of Oak Harbor’s most colorful parades.

But when the St. Patrick’s Day parade takes place at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in downtown, Strehle will take center stage, serving as grand marshal while waving to spectators from the comforts of a Volkswagen convertible.

And that makes Heinz “Dutch” Strehle, who is neither Dutch nor Irish, a little uneasy.

“I was fighting it,” Strehle said. “I didn’t really want it because I’m not Irish, but I guess I have to be honored.

“I was hoping that none of my friends stand out there and die laughing when I come down as grand marshal in an Irish parade being German and everything.”

Anyone associated with the Irish Wildlife Society, which organizes the parade each year, will tell you that Strehle’s honor couldn’t be more fitting.

For the past 24 years, he’s served as the parade’s chairman, which involved soliciting participation, lining up entries and even building floats.

He decided after last year’s event he wouldn’t serve in that role for year No. 25.

“I said, ‘It’s time for new blood,’ ” Strehle said.

Little did he know back then how important that decision would be.

He didn’t know then how much his own life would change over the next several months.

In November, Strehle was formally introduced to Donna Haines at the Oak Harbor Yacht Club, and neither of their lives have been the same since.

Both had lost their longtime spouses to cancer three years earlier and never expected they would fall in love again.

But both were wrong.

On March 7, the two exchanged wedding vows at Strehle’s Oak Harbor home.

“I never thought this would happen,” Donna said. “We fell in love. It’s the most wonderful thing. This is just amazing at our age.”

“I already made up my mind I was probably going to end up in a retirement home somewhere once I can’t handle things anymore, which I still can,” said Dutch, who’s 73. “I basically never thought this would happen again.”

The stars didn’t entirely align entirely on their own, however.

The Strehles admit that a little match-making was orchestrated by Rhonda Severns, Donna’s daughter who lives down the street from Dutch along with her husband, Oak Harbor Councilman Bob Severns.

Rhonda Severns pointed Dutch out to her mother at the Oak Harbor Music Festival and, ultimately, talked them into having dinner together.

Dutch also had noticed Donna’s presence in the neighborhood since returning to Oak Harbor following an extended visit to Henderson, Nev.

“Rhonda kept things spinning,” Dutch said with a smile.

“She would not stop,” Donna said with a laugh.

Both said they are grateful that she didn’t.

They also agree it was probably a good thing that Dutch didn’t tackle the St. Patrick’s Day parade this month.

“He had a real conflict of interest,” this year’s parade chairman, Mike Thelen, said jokingly.

Strehle became involved with the Oak Harbors St. Patrick’s Day parade because his former wife, Roby McGee, was affiliated with the Irish Wildlife Society.

Born near Stuttgart, Germany, Strehle giggled about his place with the club. But his role organizing the parade was no laughing matter for the retired Marine Corps sergeant who got the nickname “Dutch” while serving three combat tours in Vietnam.

“He’s really been the anchor of the group,” Thelen said. “He’s really good with all the details.”

When the Irish Wildlife Society met in January, there was discussion on whether the parade would continue since it needed to find a new chairman.

“Reluctantly, my hand went up,” Thelen said.

(Below: Mattie, the Strehles’ labradoodle, also will be in the parade.)

Strehle’s hand will go up several times on St. Patrick’s Day while he waves to spectators. His wife will be alongside him, as will their labradoodle, Mattie.

Those who know the couple say the two have acted like kids since they met.

Donna also is a longtime Oak Harbor resident and business owner. She and her late husband, Ron Haines, used to own Haines Chevron and other businesses.

“Neither one of them was looking for a partner,” Rhonda Severns said of her mother and Dutch. “They just hit it off and fell in love.

“To see her so happy and to know that she could fall in love again, it’s really great for both of them.”

Nearly 30 friends and family gathered for the wedding ceremony that was held in the Strehle home on Pioneer Way at sunset.

“It was wonderful,” Rhonda Severns said.

“There were a lot of tears for me. Happy tears.”

Parade time

The 42nd Oak Harbor St. Patrick’s Day parade is 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. The parade route travels from Midway Boulevard west down Southeast Pioneer Way. The event is sponsored by the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce and is organized by the Irish Wildlife Society. Among the parade entries are the PBY Memorial Foundation, the Seahawks’ Fanbulance and Shifty Sailors from Coupeville. North Whidbey Help House will be collecting canned food donations in shopping carts along the parade route. Following the parade, there will be a community sing-along with the community band at the American Legion Hall. Corned beef and cabbage dinners will be served at $8 per plate. Children are welcome. For information, call chairman Mike Thelen at 360-679-8499.