Lyle M. Exstrom

Lyle M. Exstrom, 65, Altus, passed away Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at Jackson County Memorial Hospital. Celebration of Life services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 28, 2011 at Kincannon Memorial Chapel with Michael Moon officiating. Services are under the direction of the Kincannon Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 1:30 PM Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at the Bethany Lutheran Church Cemetery in Axtell, Nebraska with Pastor David Evenson officiating. Graveside services are under the direction of the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home. Lyle M. Exstrom was born on June 28, 1945 in Axtell, Nebraska to Eugene and Merinda (Danielson) Exstrom. He graduated from high school in Holdrege, Nebraska in 1963. Lyle married Linda Lou Engelke February 6, 1965 in Holdrege, Nebraska. He had an accomplished career in the newspaper industry highlighted by: Fremont (Nebraska) Tribune- advertising department, Savanna (Illinois)Times-Journal – advertising director and sportswriter, Wrestling Sportswriter of the year (1980-81), Inducted into the Northwest Illinois Sports Hall of Fame (1981), General Manager of Savanna Times – Journal, Publisher of Arkadelphia (Arkansas) Daily Siftings Herald, Clinton (Iowa) Herald, and the Altus Times. He retired from the newspaper industry and became the Revenue Manager for Quartz Mountain Resort and Conference Center. Lyle was very active in Rotary, Altus Chamber of Commerce (President in 1996), Illinois, Arkansas, and Oklahoma Newspaper Associations, President of the Savanna Chamber of Commerce in 1990, and a member of First United Methodist Church in Altus, OK. He was devoted to his family and enjoyed home projects and golf. Lyle was an avid sports fan especially of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Lyle had a way of looking at things in a kind way. He was a gentle soul, always offering his hand to someone in need whether at work or home or where he happened to be. He believed that people had a difficult time putting their best foot forward if they were hungry and he supported soup kitchens and free meal programs and often opened his wallet and heart when someone asked for help. He followed his family traits of enjoying life with a unique sense of humor. Seldom did family and friends gather where laughter was not heard. He loved to work. His business acumen and ethics were unmatched when at the job. Doing his best was never a question, while fairness and ‘doing it right’ was the foundation. With 40 years in the newspaper business, his product was held to a high, and prize-winning, standard, and he always left that business and community a better place when transferred away. He participated in civic organizations in each town, often sitting at the Board or committee tables. A family man from the first, his children and grandchildren were always in his thoughts and heart. He was content for hours as he watched recitals and musical performances. There was not an event that went by that his children did not feel his presence and support in the stands or behind a camera. For many years, his hobby was sports writing. To him there was never a ‘bad’ night or a ‘poor’ athlete and comments were made that people didn’t know that the game was lost until the final score was read. The athlete’s arena was important to him and he was never prouder than when his children participated in football, basketball, volleyball, track, cheerleading, golf, and tennis. There was no greater pride than when his children participated in golf and tennis at the college level. Plain and simple: He was a good and kind man and has left the world a better place. Mr. Exstrom was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Lance Exstrom. Lyle is survived by his wife, Linda, of the home; one daughter, Jennifer Nipper and husband, Bill, of Tupelo, MS; and one son Christopher Exstrom and wife, Suzanne, of Kearney, NE; two grandchildren, Geoffrey and Robert Exstrom of Kearney, NE; one sister, Sheila Exstrom of Lincoln, NE; two brothers, LeMoyne Exstrom and wife, Phyllis, of Holdrege, NE and Bryce Exstrom and wife, Kay, of Fremont, NE; one nephew, Kenton Exstrom; one niece, Katelyn Exstrom; one great-nephew, Kyle; a great-niece, Andrea; lifelong friend, Lucy Hansen; and several other family and many friends. The family will receive friends at Kincannon Funeral Home from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Friday and at Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska on Tuesday, May 31, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 or to the Bethany Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, 903 25th Road, Axtell, Nebraska 68924.