GEORGE E. METSKER, of Route 3, Augusta, Kansas, passed away on
November 17, 1986, having been sick only a few months with cancer.
George loved antiques of all kinds but dealt mostly in one horse
farm machinery and old farm wrenches. He also was a judge for the
Iowa State Fair Tractor Pull for several years and was well known
for his fairness in all classes of tractor pulling. He had many
antique loving friends all over the middle west and will be greatly
missed.
Submitted by members of the Kansas and Oklahoma Steam and Gas
Engine Association, Marshall Futhey, Route 1, Box 202, Rose Hill,
Kansas, and Max Lemon, Wichita, Kansas.
MARVIN G. FUNDERBURK, passed away October 13, 1986, at age 71. A
lifelong resident of Union County, North Carolina, he was an avid
collector of antique engines and farm machinery.
For many years Marvin and his wife, Lilia, hosted the Early Days
Farm Show at their home where they also operated the Early Days
Farm Museum.
Marvin was a generous man with plenty of warm smiles and kind
words for everyone he met. Those of us who had the pleasure of
knowing Marvin will miss him and his wisdom and wit in the years to
come.
The man is gone, but the love’s still here,With the turning
of each gear; For each time the flywheels turned, There is a lesson
to be learned.
He told me this, and to my delight, I’m now beginning to see
he’s right. The things he tried so hard to teach, Now seem to
be within my reach.
He spoke of things of which I’d never heard And as I
marveled at each word He spoke of threshing wheat and pressing hay.
He loved to talk of the Early Days.
He talked of ‘engines’-one lungers, I recall These
interested me most of all. So he showed me one, in a shed out back.
When he turned the flywheel I heard a ‘crack’.
I stood amazed at the way it run Missing about twenty then
hitting one. It’s from this day the love has grown, I now have
twenty of my own!
Submitted by Edward E. Hartis, 221 Mill Grove Road, Indian
Trail, NC 28079.
NEILS A. (ANDY) KRUSE, Park Ridge, Illinois, died suddenly on
November 28, 1986. Andy had been in apparently good health, and had
been at his favorite pastime of restoring vintage engines the day
of his death. Late Friday afternoon, November 28th, Andy complained
of not feeling well. A few minutes later he suffered a fatal heart
attack.
The Kruse engine collection began about twenty years ago, and
quickly grew to include some of the finest vintage engines in this
country, not only in terms of rarity, but also in terms of the
first-class restoration job which came from Andy’s shop. Along
the way, Andy became a recognized authority on vintage engines, and
traced the history of many companies. Using old books and early hot
tube engines, Andy spent a great amount of time experimenting with
the hot tube ignition system. Through these experiments Andy became
somewhat of an expert on hot tube ignition.
The Kruse collection also included a number of hot air engines,
and for these, as well as the gas engines, making new parts as part
of the restoration process was commonplace.
Andy and his wife Ruth resided in Park ridge, Illinois all their
life, and from their home they operated Andy’s Landscape
Service for many years. After retiring, Andy devoted the great
majority of his time to vintage engines, and was recognized as an
expert on early engines.
Born October 24, 1909, Andy is survived by his wife Ruth, a son,
Neils Kruse, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services were
held on Monday, December 1, 1986 at the M. J. Suerth Funeral Home
in Park Ridge, with burial at the Town of Maine Cemetery, also in
Park Ridge.
Submitted by C. H. Wendel, Atkins, Iowa 52206.
GLENN BROCKMIRE, Egypt Mills, Missouri, a charter member of the
Egypt Mills Antique Tractor Club, passed away December 3, 1986, at
the age of 71.
Glenn had lived and farmed in the Egypt Mills community in
southeast Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County all of his life.
He farmed with the McCormick-Deering line of tractors and
equipment down through the years. At our antique tractor pulls, he
would be seen operating a family-owned WD-40, WK-40, W-30, etc.
His friendly nature and smiling face will be missed by friends,
neighbors, club members, and loved ones.
Submitted by Mike Hahn, member of Egypt Mills Antique Tractor
Club.
