La Crosse native Jeff Wrobel reigns over 2023 Oktoberfest as new Festmaster

On an evening last spring when they had seen both the Brewers and Bucks lose games, local sports fans Jeff and Amy Wrobel were getting ready to call it a night.

“We went to Howie’s to watch the Brewers, and they lost, right to the Cubs,” said Amy. “Then we went to Sloopy’s” to see the Bucks game. “Also lost to the Celtics, by 41 points.”

After they got back home, somebody knocked on their door. Outside the house, the Wrobels found a white dog wearing a dirndl, and also discovered an envelope and a white feather. Just then, two past Festmasters of Oktoberfest and their wives appeared, to ask Jeff and Amy if they would like to be Festmaster and Frau for 2023. The evening suddenly became much better.

The Wrobels were officially inducted into this year’s fest family on Wednesday night at the Festmaster’s Ball.

“We were in the grenadier corps from 1994 through 2004,” Jeff told reporters, “and then we were fortunate enough to be Grenadier General in 1998.”

Jeff and Amy have been married 39 years, and they have enjoyed the fests through all that time. “Enjoyed Oktoberfest as young parents of little kids, took ’em to the carnival, and then grenadier corps, and so now we’re looking forward to seeing Oktoberfest from a different perspective,” said Jeff.

Amy believes that a highlight of the next few days will be celebrating with other members of this year’s royalty.

“Getting to know the 2023 royal family, simply the best royal family,” she says. “Super excited to spend a year with them, traveling around to the different festivals, getting to know them, making new friends.”

Jeff Wrobel is the chief financial officer with Kwik Trip. He and Amy have been active supporting the Central High show choir and the Coulee Region Humane Society. Oktoberfest begins its official three-day run on Thursday, with the Torchlight Parade being the highlight of the first night.