IN MEMORIAM

By Staff
Published on July 1, 1994
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GILBERT S HELDON, age 70, of Orion, Illinois, died March 31,
1994 at home on the family farm. Gilbert was born March 11,
1924.

After graduation from high school, he served a four year term in
the Navy during World War II. He married Myrtle Fluegel on January
15, 1949.

Gilbert was a member of the Antique Engine and Tractor
Association, of Atkinson, Illinois. He loved the challenge of an
old engine, tractor, or broken parts of anything mechanical, or
sitting around with the engine gang talking over fond memories of
engine shows, day trips or the next old iron excursion.

He will be missed by all whom he had come to know, but will be
remembered by the twinkle in his eye and the smile on his face, and
his friendship to all.

Gilbert is survived by his wife Myrtle; a daughter Jean Kissell,
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin; a son and daughter-in-law Jerry and Lisa,
Orion; grandchildren Gregory and Sarah, Orion; and a brother Lewis,
Rock Island.

Submitted by son, Jerry Sheldon, 13010, 117th St., Orion,
Illinois 61273.

JAMES L. LAYTON of Federalsburg, Maryland, passed away Sunday,
April 10, 1994 at the age of 70. He was born on the family farm
near Harmony Maryland, October 3, 1923, the son of the late James
Herman and Martha Willis Layton.

He was a lifelong farmer and had operated a sawmill for many
years. He was well known by steam traction engine and antique
agricultural machinery collectors across the country.

In 1959 he bought back the steam engine his father had when he
was growing up. In the following few years he purchased two more 8
Frick engines, finding out later that one was the last Frick
traction engine built.

In 1961 he threshed a half load of wheat with several neighbors
watching and it became an annual event. The Eastern Shore
Threshermen and Collector’s Association, Inc., was organized in
1966 and he had served as its president since then. An avid
collector, he had a large collection of antique farm machinery.

He had attended steam shows since the 1950s and had been a
member of most of the shows in the Mid-Atlantic area.

Mr. Layton is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mildred; three
daughters, Shirley Jackson, Brenda Stant and Patricia Layton; and
two grandchildren, George Layton Jackson and Susan Jane Stant.

Submitted by Brenda Stant, 6101 Harmony Road, Preston,
Maryland 21655.

ELWOOD STUCKEY, was born April 15, 1921, and died April 17,
1994.

Elwood loved being part of the Miami Valley Steam Thresher’s
Association as it reminded him of his youth. He was always telling
his family, and those that he met, stories of the days he
remembered being in the fields threshing wheat. He told of how his
mother, and other women, would prepare meals at each place that
they were threshing during harvest season. His father owned a steam
engine, and he would tell of how he wanted to operate that steam
engine; and his lifelong dream of being an engineer on a train.

But more than anything, Elwood loved people young and old. He
always enjoyed meeting older folks, and hearing stories of their
past. The young people would come to see his Huber thresher and
would be curious about how it ran. Elwood was always glad to take
time to explain its workings; and tell of the days of his youth
working with a machine like this one. He would even give them the
opportunity to get on the wagon and pitch the wheat into the
separator; giving them the chance to sample a part of the past.

Elwood was, most of all, a loved and respected man. Anyone who
came to know him could not have helped being affected by him. His
family can tell you, that in knowing him, a little of him rubbed
off on you. His way of seeing life and how people should be kind to
each other, deeply affected everyone. He was always willing to help
anyone he could; and would never expect or accept anything in
return. That is how he wanted everyone to be. That is how he wanted
to be remembered.

He will be sadly missed by his family, and those who called him
‘friend’.

Fond remembrance by Nancy Stuckey, Submitted by Fred
McDaniel, Miami Valley Steam Threshers Assn., P.O. Box 555, South
Vienna, Ohio 45369

JOHN D. SANGER, 75, of Franklin, Nebraska died Saturday, April
9, 1994 at Franklin County Memorial Hospital.

He was a World War II veteran serving with the Army Air Corps in
North Africa and Italy.

On October 12, 1946, he married Gladys Clark at Washington,
Kansas. They farmed in the Franklin and Hildreth area for many
years. His wife died April 26, 1989.

He was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church, the VFW Post 5751,
and the American Legion Post 209.

He is survived by his daughter, Jeanne Kleen, Prague,
Czechoslavakia; one sister, three brothers, two grandchildren and
three great-grandchildren.

John attended steam shows in northern Kansas, southern Nebraska,
and Iowa for well over 35 years. He touched the lives of everyone
he met with his kindness and love. He will be truly missed by all
who knew him.

Submitted by Robert Matheny, Kearney, Nebraska.

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