IN MEMORIAM

By Staff
Published on August 1, 2000

WILBERT ELLIS ‘BOOP’ WENDT, SR., was born October 25,
1918 in Bellville, Texas, the son of Adolph and Marie (Seyer)
Wendt. In 1940, he was baptized in the Methodist faith.

He was united in marriage with Flora Schroeder on August 20,
1938 at St. John Lutheran Church in Bellville.

Boop went to work for John Deere as an engine repairman in 1943
attending schools in Mississippi and Iowa. He went into business
for himself in 1959 repairing tractors, small engines, and all
types of lawn and farm equipment. He retired in 1979.

In 1986, when he went back into business for himself, he began
collecting and restoring antique engines and was featured on a
segment of ‘The Eyes of Texas.’ Boop also enjoyed
collecting and repairing clocks.

He loved squirrels and had made pets of those that were in and
around his yard.

A lifelong resident of Bellville, Boop was a member of the First
United Methodist Church, Woodmen of the World, and the Gulf Coast
Fly Wheelers Antique Club. He was also a member of both the
Coshatte and Kenney agricultural societies. For a number of years,
he had also served on the board of directors for the Millheim
Harmony Hall. For over 40 years, he was active in the Pilgrims Rest
Cemetery Association where he sold spaces, marked graves, and
handled dirt removal and general upkeep of the cemetery.

He passed away suddenly Wednesday, November 10, 1999 in a
Brenham hospital, having recently celebrated his 81st birthday. He
is survived by his wife of over 61 years, Flora Wendt; daughter
Delores Parr and her husband E.C. Parr; son Wilbert E. Wendt Jr.,
and his fiancee, Freda Klausmeyer, all of Bellville; brothers
Vernon Wendt and his wife, Dolores, of Bellville and Clarence Wendt
and his wife, Bitty, of Columbus; his sister, Edith Krueger of
Bellville, and twin sister, Winnie Himly, and her husband Edward,
of Sealy; grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter, and his
brothers Kenneth, Ralph, and Harold Wendt.

Submitted by Mrs. Flora Wendt, 198 Wendt Road, Bellville,
Texas 77418.

WILLIAM ‘WILLIE’ ROHRER, was born August 30,
1917 and passed away January 29, 2000.

Willie, as everybody knew him, lived in Leitersburg, Maryland,
just outside of Hagerstown. He was the father of the Smithsburg
Steam Engine and Craft Show that is held in Smithsburg, Maryland,
at the end of September. He was a member of many steam
organizations throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. He
could always be found around the sawmill at the shows in Middletown
and Wolfsville, Maryland. As he said many times, ‘I think that
I grew up in the best time of this old world, because when I was
young, we came from farming with horses to putting a man on the
moon.’ He always had a joke or some type of a saying or
comeback remark for you no matter what you asked. He has taught
many people many things over the years, and I know that he will be
missed by many people, but not as much as I will miss him.

Submitted by Mike Rohrer, 12025 Steven Ave., Smithsburg,
Maryland 21783.

THOMAS J. SHERRY, of North Canton, Ohio, passed away May 5,
2000. Born May 14, 1942, in Canton, Ohio, Tom worked at the Hoover
Corporation in North Canton for 39 years.

Well known in the antique engine and tractor community, Tom was
an expert on the John Deere model L series of tractors, and served
for many years on the Two-Cylinder Club Technical Council.

A long involvement with the Two-Cylinder Club led to an
appointment as Area Coordinator for northeastern Ohio. In this
capacity, Tom worked long and hard to organize the first Ohio
chapter of the club, which was chartered on May 12, 1991. Tom
served as the chapter’s first president, and continued to
support the organization which is now known as the Northeast Ohio
Two-Cylinder Club.

Tom was a lifetime member of the Tuscarawas Valley Pioneer Power
Association, of Dover, Ohio, as well as the Stark Antique Power
Association, of Louisville, Ohio, both of which organizations he
served in various capacities.

Survived by his wife Lillie, daughters Pam and Ann, and
grandchildren Heather and Michael, Tom will be sadly missed by
them, a well as his many friends and acquaintances.

Submitted by Sam Moore, Historian, Northeast Ohio
Two-Cylinder Club.

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