Delmar Leroy Kroehler was born March 6, 1902, in Naperville, DuPage County, Illinois, the son of Peter Edward Kroehler and Josephine Lucille Stephens. Lucille was the daughter of Matthias Stephens and Elizabeth Yost.
Delmar attended the public schools of Naperville, graduating from the Naperville High School in 1920. He then attended the University of Illinois, graduating in 1924.
In 1922, he joined the Kroehler company as a machine operator. In 1927, he was named vice president of production and became president in 1938 after his father became ill. Delmar was chairman and chief executive officer from 1951 until his retirement in 1967.
In addition, Delmar served as the Director of the National Association of Furniture Manufacturers for several years.
During the period of Delmar’s control of the company, Kroehler Furniture Manufacturing grew into the world’s largest upholstered furniture manufacturer, with 22 plants in Canada, as well as the United States.
The Kroehler Furniture Manufacturing Plant in Naperville, which was the company headquarters, was the largest employer in Naperville during his stewardship. Kroehler even had its own news magazine, highlighting all of the social events of the employees at each plant as well as company news and awards presented to employees for years of service and money saving suggestions.
The company produced numerous different items for the war effort during World War II. After the war, Delmar continued to have the company manufacture good quality furniture at affordable prices which kept the company profitable. He also developed the land between 5th and 8th Avenues, and Loomis and Columbia Streets, building affordable homes for his employees. Every home was approximately 1,100 square feet, with three bedrooms, one bathroom and a one-car garage.
Delmar’s half-brother, Kenneth, took over control of the company in 1967 and changed the type of furniture being made, attempting to make inroads into the higher-end market. The company quickly became unprofitable and the plant in Naperville closed in 1978.
Subsequently, the Kroehler company was sold in 1981.
The old plant is now known as 5th Avenue Station.
Delmar married Dorothy Jane Hughes on January 22, 1927, in Chicago and they were the parents of a daughter, Jane Ann, who married Hank Cobb; and a son, Rodney Stuart.
Delmar was raised a Master Mason December 12, 1923, and exalted a Royal Arch Mason March 11, 1924. Delmar donated the hand-carved Masters Chair to the Lodge in 1934.
Delmar Leroy Kroehler died October 14, 1982, at the Hinsdale Sanitarium Hospital in Hinsdale, DuPage County, Illinois. He was buried in the Oakridge Cemetery, Hillside, Cook County, Illinois.
