B. Skromme

Moline, Illinois
Arnold B. Skromme, 91, formerly of Moline, Illinois, former Deere and Company Chief Engineer, died Friday, August 8, 2008, in Mendota Lutheran Home, Mendota, Illinois.
Services are 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2008, at Faith Lutheran Church, Moline, with The Reverend Dr. Mark Gehrke officiating. Burial is in Moline Memorial Park. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, 601 21st Street, Moline. Memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, Mendota Lutheran Home or Alzheimers Association.
Arnold Burton Skromme was born April 1, 1917, in Zearing, Iowa, the son of Austin and Belle (Holmedal) Skromme. He received a BS degree in Engineering from Iowa State University. He married Lois Lucille Martin on September 14, 1944, in Slater, Iowa. She died October 7, 2003.
Arnold was chief engineer for John Deere Spreader Works and Harvester Works, retiring in 1984 after 34 years with the company. He previously worked for Deere in Ottumwa, Iowa, and as a researcher for Firestone during WW II.
He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Moline, and the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, and a former member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and Moline Rotary Club. His hobbies were children?s education and collecting antiques, and he authored two books, "The Cause and Cure of School Dropouts" and "Memorization is Not Enough ? the Seven Ability Plan".
Arnold is survived by four children, Roger Skromme and his wife Marilyn of Prophetstown, Illinois, Keith Skromme and his partner Tom McClure of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, Debbie Wegener of Moline, and Erik Skromme and his wife Laurie of Ottawa, Illinois; seven grandchildren, Heather Jo and Jake Vahle, Dawn and T.J. Lockhart, Tad and Stephanie Skromme, Carrie Skromme, Molly and Brian Clark, Nicholas Skromme, and Douglas Skromme; five great-grandchildren, MacKenzie Raye and Maxon Clarke Vahle, Brett Christian Lockhart, and Taylor Jean and Kyle Austin Skromme; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Lawrence and Margaret Skromme of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Robert Skromme of Celena, Ohio, and Austin and Jane Skromme of Tallahassee, Florida. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; and sisters, Judith Beaty, Margaret Thompson, and Endora Skromme.
Arnold?s family invites friends to sign his guestbook, share a story about him or light a candle in his memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.