- http://www.gazetteonline.com/2005/06/28/Home/lyledrollingerdies.htm
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Well-known I.C. entertainer, City Park ride operator dies
Published: 06/28/2005 5:56 PM
By: Jim O'Neal - The Gazette
IOWA CITY, IA - When it came to entertaining Iowans, Lyle Drollinger had no off season.
When he wasn't operating the amusement rides in City Park, the Iowa City man was performing with his Dixieland band, the Iowa City Slickers, or his big band, the Lyle Drollinger Big Band.
Drollinger died Monday in the arms of his wife, Verla Drollinger, from complications of encephalitis. He was 82.
"He was a wonderful person," Verla said. "He was so kind. You never heard him say a bad word about anybody. It was really hard to lose him."
Drollinger, a trumpeter and drummer, began playing in local bands at age 15 while he was attending high school in Kalona, Verla Drollinger said.
Pianist Dick Watson of Iowa City said he loved played Dixieland jazz with Drollinger.
"He was a very strong player," Watson said. "He really pushed the band along."
Drollinger headed up the Iowa City Slickers from the mid-1960s to about 1990, Watson said. The Slickers regularly played the Airliner, a bar and restaurant on Clinton Street in downtown Iowa City that closed last year.
"He was always a lot of fun to play with," Watson said. "You never knew what he was going to say."
Drollinger's big band played at dance halls around Eastern Iowa and performed in Davenport's Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, Watson said.
Drollinger was a charter member of Local 450 of the American Federation of Musicians and provided employment opportunities for many local musicians, local secretary-treasurer Roscoe Porch Jr. said.
Drollinger's parents, Charlie and Gladys Drollinger, opened the City Park rides in 1952 and handed them off to Lyle when they retired in 1968.
Lyle ran the rides until 1993. Verla Drollinger operated a concessions stand at the site.
Guy Drollinger, one of Lyle Drollinger's two sons, and Guy's wife, Sue, then operated the rides until 1999, when they sold them to the city.
Over the years, the ride collection included a train, a merry-go-round, an airplane ride and a Ferris wheel.
In addition to Verla, Drollinger is survived by four children, Diana Warren of New York City, Karen Estrella of Denver, Colo., and Dean Drollinger and and Guy Drollinger, both of Iowa City; two stepchildren, Jane Coons of New Boston, Ill., and Bill Becker of Readlyn; and two brothers, Ralph of Fort Dodge and Charles Jr. of Iowa City.
See Wednesday's Gazette for an obituary.
Lyle Drollinger
DROLLINGER, CROY, BECKER, WARREN, ESTRELLA, COONS, BECKER
Posted By: Harvey W. Henry
Date: 6/30/2005 at 14:00:46
Iowa City Press Citizen
(photo included)
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Lyle Drollinger, 82
Lyle D. "Smokey" Drollinger, 82, of Iowa City, died Monday, June 27, 2005 at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Iowa City of complications from encephalitis.
Celebration of Life service will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 30, 2005 at Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. Pastor Lynn Branchinni will be officiating. Family will greet friends from 9 a.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home, with a fellowship time following the service. Burial will be at a later date. He will be cremated.
Lyle was born January 8, 1923 in Essex, Iowa to Charles and Gladys Croy Drollinger. He attended Kalona High School, graduating in 1940. He was in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II.
Lyle was a musician. He was band leader of Iowa City Slicker and Lyle Drollinger Orchestra. The Drollinger family also owned and operated rides in City Park in Iowa City for 50 years. He was a member of the American Federation of Musicians.
Lyle married Verla Becker on December 16, 1995.
Lyle in survived by his wife; four children, Diana Warren of New York City, NY, Karen Estrella of Denver, CO, Dean Drollinger of Iowa City and Guy Drollinger of Iowa City; two step-children, Jane Coons of New Boston, IL and Bill Becker of Readlyn, IA; several grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Ralph Drollinger of Fort Dodge, IA and Charles D. Drollinger, Jr. of Iowa City. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A general memorial fund has been established.
Condolences may be sent to www.peterseimfuneralhome.com.
Kalonanews.com
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Lyle D. Drollinger 1923-2005
Lyle D. (Smokey) Drollinger, 82, of Iowa City died Monday, June 27, 2005 in the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Iowa City, of complications of encephalitis.
Serivces were Thursday, June 30, in Peterseim Funeral Home, Kalona, with Pastor Lynn Branchinni officiating. Burial of the cremains will take place at a later date.
Born January 8, 1923 in Essex, he was the son of Charles and Gladys (Croy) Drollinger. He graduated from Kalona High School in 1940.
Mr. Drollinger served in the United States Army Air Corp during World War II.
He was a musician and band leader of Iowa City Slicker, The Brass Image and Lyle Drollinger Orchestra. The Drollinger family owned and operated rides in City Park in Iowa City for 50 years.
He was a member of the American Federation of Musicians.
He was united in marriage to Verla Becker.
Survivors include his wife, Verla Drollinger of Iowa City; four children, Diana Warren of New York City, New York, Karen Estrella of Denver, Colorado, Dean Drollinger and Guy Drollinger, both of Iowa City; two step-children, Jane Coons of New Boston, Illinois and Bill Becker of Readlyn; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Ralph Drollinger of Ft. Dodge and Charles D. Drollinger, Jr. of Iowa City.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A general memorial fund has been established.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.peterseimfuneralhome.com.
Peterseim Funeral Service, Kalona, in charge of arrangements.
Social Security Death Index
Name: Lyle D. Drollinger
SSN: 484-14-8731
Last Residence: 52240 Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa
Born: 8 Jan 1923
Died: 27 Jun 2005
State (Year) SSN issued: Iowa (Before 1951)
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1923 - 2005 (82 years)
