We deeply regret the passing of JOHN SMITH on Tuesday, September
10, 1996, of cancer at the age of 64 John lived in Hazlet, New
Jersey.
He was known for collecting Woodpecker engines and had the
largest collection known.
We all looked forward to the meetings when we would see his
great humor and sharp wit. What impressed us most about John was
his knowledge as a tool and die maker and the beautiful parts and
machinery that his skilled hands could produce, built for his own
pleasure and for anyone who would ask.
John leaves behind his loving wife, Catherine, family and many
friends.
Submitted by Pinelands Antique Engine Association, Ocean County,
New Jersey.
We are saddened to report the passing of ORVILLE BABCOCK, age
80, of Hastings, Michigan, on November 6, 1996. He is survived by
his wife of 57 years, Irene, two children, six grandchildren and
six great-grandchildren.
Orville’s active participation in the gas and steam hobby
blossomed after his retirement in the late ’70s when he began
collecting gas and steam engines and set up a sawmill with steam
power under the watchful eye of Harry ‘Pink’ Woodmansee of
nearby Dowling.
Some enthusiasts will especially remember a Gould Shapley and
Muir opposed cylinder twin water hopper 22 HP sideshaft which our
family had the pleasure of exhibiting with Orville at numerous
shows including Charlton Park, Mason, River Bend, Henry Ford Museum
at Greenfield Village, and Portland, Indiana.
He was born March 9, 1916, in Baltimore Township. He was raised
in Baltimore Township and attended Barry Mill School, Dowling
School and graduated from Hastings High School in 1934. He taught
school from 1936 until 1940 at the Checkered School, and the Weeks
School in rural Barry County. He was employed by H. B. Sherman Co.,
in Battle Creek for 27 years, retiring in 1976. He was also engaged
in farming and also worked at other Battle Creek factories. He
married Irene Shellenberger on August 7, 1939.
Orville and Irene will also be remembered for their flea market
and craft display set up at Charlton Park, Mason, and other shows.
They enjoyed the shows very much and especially wintering in the
Rio Grande Valley of Texas where Orville volunteered at the Live
Steam Museum at Alamo until its closing and participated in the Rio
Grande Valley Old Farm Equipment Club activities.
Submitted by their friends for over 20 years, Leonard and Ruth
Spoelman, 3221 Brookshire SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49508.
This is in remembrance of JOE KRAUSE of Ashland, Ohio, who
passed away August 18, 1996 at age 69.
Joe was a member of the Ashland County Yesteryear Machinery
Club, where he showed his restored engines and tractors all over
Ohio for many years, and made many friends. He loved restoring
anything!
Joe was a ‘John Deere Man’ for 50 years, and pulled his
restored ‘John Deere A’ at many pulls.
He spent many evenings reading GEM, which he had received every
month since 1977.
He had been a John Deere mechanic for many years, and earned the
reputation of the person to see to get it done right, and then
became a teacher at the Ashland County-West Holmes Joint Vocational
School where he commanded the respect of his fellow staff members
and especially his students. Joe was highly respected by the
students, as he could both do the job, and at the same time pass
his knowledge on to them.
Joe leaves behind a legacy of tractors and engines which will be
passed down to his 10 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
He also leaves another legacy which has already been passed on to
his students and others who were able to share in his
knowledge.
He was quite a guy and will be greatly missed.
Submitted by Harriet Krause, his wife.
Three short lonely blasts of the whistle were the last sounds
that mourners heard at the cemetery as they said their silent
goodbyes to Michigan Flywheeler Director, DON GETMAN, of South
Haven, Michigan, who died suddenly Thursday, November 14, 1996
after a short bout with cancer.
An avid collector of steam whistles, Don was also involved in
the Michigan Flywheelers Museum and was instrumental in helping to
obtain and develop the club’s new show grounds. He had been a
director with the club for the last five years.
Retiring in 1990 from the construction business, Don and wife
Lorrie spent their time attending antique engine and tractors
shows, driving a grey fifth wheel trailer custom designed by Don to
display his vast collection of whistles in the back. Don’s
collection ranged from the small Mockingbird whistle to his newest
acquisition bought while at the Portland show in August of what he
jokingly referred to as the ‘ugliest whistle in
Portland.’
His friendship, his humor, his unlimited time, effort and
dedication to the Michigan Flywheelers will be sorely missed by his
many friends.
Memorials may be made to the Michigan Flywheelers, 254 Hubbard
Street, South Haven, Michigan 49090.
Submitted by his friend, Kim Ingalls, Bangor, Michigan.
