Loyl Stromberg

Loyl Stromberg, 97, passed away Friday, September 30, 2011 at Essentia Health - St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM, Tuesday, October 4, 2011at Faith Lutheran Church in Swanburg Township. Family and friends are invited to gather one hour prior to services. Memorials are preferred to the National Poultry Museum.

Loyl is survived by his sons, Loy (Janet), of Pine River and Kraig (Diane) of Rockville, RI; grandchildren, Carl, Eric and Tracy; brother, Wayne of Crosslake; and sister, Bettie Snyder, of Brainerd. He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyne and son, Keith.

Loyl was born on a farm near Otho, IA, in 1914 where he lived until he was 10 years old. There he learned early how to take care of chickens. In 1924, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Stromberg, moved to Fort Dodge, IA to start one of the first chick hatcheries in the State of Iowa. Loyl graduated from high school in 1932 and did not go to college as the growing poultry industry was his field of opportunity. In 1933, he went to Minneapolis to operate the branch hatchery until 1940 when he returned to Fort Dodge to be assistant manager. On June 28, 1941, he married Evelyne Erickson, of Minneapolis, who as time went on became his partner in another type of mail order business. He re-organized SPPA (Soceity for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities). Later, he wrote books on poultry and game birds - a total of 14 books, including: Poultry of the World, which is sold all over the world.

In Fort Dodge, IA, he was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church where he served as Deacon and Trustee. He also served on the building committee for the construction of a new church. In 1972, Loyl and Evelyne moved to Pine River, MN where he was a member of Crosslake Lutheran Church and later, Faith Lutheran Church in Swanburg. He was also a life time member of the American Poultry Historical Society and the Crosslake Historical Society. In more recent years, he promoted tours for Poultry Fanciers to go to Europe - a total of six tours. At the time of his death, he had started to work on another book to serve the poultry industry. A finale in his career was starting the National Poultry Museum in Bonners Springs, KS. He is recognized as its founder. Loyl Stromber was known and respected world-wide.