Martin Erik Strom, son of Oliver August and Margery Ann (Driftmier) Strom, was born on July 8, 1947, in Shenandoah, Iowa. He passed away following a bout with cancer on Wednesday, January 9, 2008, at the Garden View Care Center in Shenandoah at the age of 60.

He grew up in Shenandoah and attended the Shenandoah Community Schools, graduating from Shenandoah High School with the Class of 1965. Following high school he attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska and received his degree in Art History in 1969. He received his calling to the ministry and studied at the United Theological Seminary in New Brighton, Minnesota. He graduated with a Masters degree in Divinity in 1972. In 1973, Martin completed a year of study in Clinical Pastoral Education at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. He later took calls as a United Church of Christ (Congregational) minister in churches in Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming before moving back to Shenandoah four years ago to make his home with his mother.

Celebration of Life Services were held on Monday, January 14, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Shenandoah. Words of comfort were given by the Rev. Rick Sleyster. Organist was Terry Stafford. The congregation sang "Precious Lord Take My Hand", "This Is My Father's World" and "O' Jesus I Have Promised". Attending the memory register were Doris Brodersen and Bonnie Ward. Ushers were C. E. Hornbuckle and Don Nelson. Inurnment was in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Shenandoah.