Virgil H. Stomberg, 97, died Wednesday surrounded by his loving family just 7 weeks before his 98th birthday at Sycamore Village in Ft. Wayne, IN. He was born in Knoxville, IL to Swedish immigrants, the late Axel & Selma (Ecklund) Stomberg. Virgil celebrated his Scandinavian heritage throughout his life. He married Margaret Hiers, the love of his life, on February 7, 1944 in Covington, Kentucky and she preceded him in death on February 18, 2004.

Surviving are three daughters, Arla (Paul) Sechler of Spencerville, IN, Kristine (Mike) Bates of Ft. Wayne, IN, Nita Thieme of Ft. Wayne, IN; grandson, Brian (Risa) Sechler of St. Joe, IN; granddaughers, Kimberley (Rob) Dixon of Riverside, IL, Angie Sechler (Rob McManus) of St. Paul, MN, Tracey (Tim) Sheppard of Ft. Wayne, IN; great grandsons, Alexander, Aidan & Luke Sheppard and Thomas Dixon; step great grandchildren, David & Meagon Badger and Christopher & Brandy Kumfer; step great great grandchildren, Logan Badger and Oliver Kumfer; sister, Verda Diede of Sioux City, Iowa. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Rodney Gerardot, a son-in-law, Thomas Thieme and a sister, Arla Cochran.

Before coming to Ft. Wayne to attend Indiana Tech, he was said to have wired most of the homes in Knoxville for electricity. During WWII, he worked on the strategic Super Charger at General Electric on Taylor Street in Ft. Wayne. After 44 plus years as a Developmental Tester with GE, he retired in 1986. He was a decades-long active member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Spencerville, serving on the church council and teaching Sunday School. He was a member of the DeKalb County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and also served on his township board for many years. Among his many passions were gardening, studying history, reading, and making wine from the harvest of his fruit trees and grape arbor. The sharing of his plentiful crop of apples from his orchard earned him the title "The Apple Man" by neighborhood children. His love of animals and all of nature has been inspirational to many. As a "Jack of all Trades", he was a master of most.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 2 pm with calling 2 hours prior at the church. Pastor Liz Nickel officiating with burial in Riverside Cemetery, St. Joe, IN.

Memorials to St. Peter Lutheran Church - PO Box 97 Spencerville, IN 46788.