The Memorial Wall

Herman Allan Heuss, 93, of Indianapolis, died on September 3, 2024 from complications of Parkinson's disease.

Allan was born January 4, 1931, to Herman and Lucille (Jenkins) Heuss in Darke County, Ohio, the second of four children. He graduated from Jackson Township High School in Randolph County, Indiana in 1948. He went on to study physical education and history at Ball State Teachers College and worked several jobs to earn his tuition and living expenses. He was a pitcher for the Ball State and industrial sponsored baseball teams. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1952.

He earned his Air Force commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. On the suggestion of a professor there, he applied for flight training even though he had never flown before as a passenger or otherwise.

Allan proposed to Helen Montano, a fellow student from Union City, Indiana in their senior year at Ball State. They were married in August of 1952, shortly before he was to report for pilot training in Texas where he discovered a lifelong love of flying. During their first four years of marriage, they were stationed on air bases in Texas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. They began their family during that time, eventually adding two daughters and two sons to their home.

After leaving active duty, Allan worked as a curricular advisor at Ball State and earned a master's degree in counseling there in 1965. He worked as a counselor and an area supervisor for the Vocational Rehabilitation Division of the Indiana Rehabilitation Services from 1960 to 1977. He went on to own and operate the John Montano Lumber Company with his wife Helen and son Tim in Union City.

From 1958 until 1982 Allan served in the Air Force Reserve. In that time, he was called to active duty for the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and the Vietnam Conflict in 1968-69. Allan retired as Vice Wing Commander of the 434th Tactical Fighter Wing with the rank of Colonel in 1982.

Born to tenant farmers, Allan grew up with plenty of manual labor to be done, problems to be solved, and decisions to be made. Throughout his life he built on this experience, enjoying physical activity in both work and leisure (particularly baseball as a young man), problem solving, and finding joy in flying and learning other new skills. He enjoyed the variety in his pursuits: one day working his regular job with clients in vocational rehabilitation or selling lumber, and the next day flying an Air Force fighter aircraft. He also put energy into serving in community groups and at his church with leadership and faithfulness.

Allan and Helen enjoyed traveling to Germany and France to visit distant but cherished relatives and friends. They also enjoyed travel adventures attending reunions of Allan's pilot training and Viet Nam squadrons.

Allan's diagnosis with Parkinson's disease and its increasing affect on his physical abilities was another challenge for his physical stamina and problem-solving skills. He enjoyed Rock Steady Boxing and, when he and Helen moved to an assisted living facility, he encouraged the establishment of a boxing class there. Allan impressed his children and health care workers alike with his inventive workarounds and determination.

Allan was predeceased by his parents, his siblings Malcolm Heuss, Judith (Heuss) Harper, and Merrill Heuss, and by a great-grandson, Josiah Gray.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Helen; daughters Kathleen Heuss of Lincoln, Nebraska and Cynthia Strietelmeier (Mark) of Indianapolis, and sons Matthew Heuss (Judy) of Indianapolis and Timothy Heuss (Jill) of Union City, Indiana; nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

An investigative journalist who authored books that tackled topics ranging from a prime minister's involvement in jet purchases to the murders of women on a British Columbia pig farm has died.

Stevie Cameron died Saturday at home in Toronto from Parkinson's, her daughter Amy Cameron said, noting her mother also had dementia.

She was 80.

Among Cameron’s best-known works is an investigation she did into then-prime minister Brian Mulroney’s involvement in the purchase of new Airbus jets.

Cameron was accused of being an informant for the RCMP when they launched their own investigation, but those accusations were later recanted.

Amy Cameron said her mother believed in speaking truth to power but power sometimes fought back, and the accusation that she was a police informant was particularly hard.

"It was an incredibly difficult position for her to be in because how do you defend yourself when you've spent a lifetime trying to keep yourself out of the story? And she truly was not a part of the story and yet had been painted in that way," Cameron said in an interview Sunday.

"She knew that when people reacted in that way and when power reacted that way, that she had touched a nerve and she felt, on balance, that it was important to tell that story."

Cameron's credentials also include two books on serial killer Robert Pickton, a stint as host of CBC's "The Fifth Estate" in the early 1990s, and working as a contributing editor of Maclean's, from 1993 to 2001, among other things.

She was also a co-founder of Out of the Cold, a volunteer program at St. Andrew’s Church in Toronto, that provides food and clothing to the homeless.

Cameron was recognized for that volunteer work, as well as her journalism, when she was awarded the Order of Canada in 2012.

"Stevie Cameron is one of Canada’s foremost investigative journalists and a committed volunteer. For decades, her award-winning books and investigative reports have exposed wrongdoing and uncovered buried truths," a bio of her on the Governor General's website notes.

Born in Belleville, Ont., Cameron's career in journalism began as a food, travel and lifestyles reporter for newspapers in Toronto and Ottawa in the 1970s. Her resume lists a certificate from Le Cordon Bleu academy in Paris from the early 1970s.

But she had an interest in crime and politics, her daughter said, and she began writing in those areas after pitching ideas to an editor.

Author and journalist Jan Wong, who remembered Cameron inviting Wong, her husband and her mother-in-law to Christmas dinner when she was new to Toronto in the 1980s, said Cameron's experience as a chef and lifestyles reporter led to some big stories.

"She had gotten many of her scoops in Ottawa about politicians because she knew all the decorators and designers and the food people," Wong recalled.

Wong said when Cameron was accused of collaborating with the RCMP, she depleted her own savings to pay for a lawyer and fellow journalists held a fundraiser to help her out.

"It's a huge loss for Canadian journalism because she was one of the most skilled investigative reporters," Wong said of Cameron's death.

Amy Cameron said she remembers her mother being meticulous with making sure she had the evidence to back up the claims in her work, adding she did her best to keep the families of the people she was writing about out of the story.

"She didn't want to harm unnecessarily or dig into the lives of people who hadn't chosen to live a public life or who hadn't caused harm towards other people," she said.

Cameron is survived by two daughters, and her husband David Cameron.

Longtime banker, aerospace engineer and East Texas native Laurel Ann Phillips Austin, better known as Sissy, died Thursday at her home after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Austin was 83 years old. 

Known locally for her leadership at Austin Bank, she was awarded the Texas Bankers Association 50 Year Banker award in 2022. Before that, her career started after a visit to NASA Space Center in Houston.

“She noticed that one of the engineers was struggling with a mathematical problem,” according to Austin Bank. “She asked for a pencil, quickly solved the equation, put the pencil down and smiled. This action led to being recruited by NASA where she started in June 1963 as one of the first female aerospace engineers, and later at a private consulting firm, TRW Systems, Houston.”

Her team created equations and programming used in the Apollo projects to track missions. She served the space program for nine years before returning to her hometown of Jacksonville with her husband, Jeff Austin, Jr.

Previously, she had been named Jacksonville Citizen of the Year, served as Chairman of the Board of Stephen F. Austin State University, was the first female president of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Cherokee Country Club, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville, Chairman of the Trinity Mother Frances Hospital System and more.

“Sissy was an approachable and sincere mentor to many,” Austin Bank said in a release announcing her death. “As a trailblazer for progress, she shared her knowledge with fellow bankers and advice seekers. A common phrase around the bank is: ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try doing it the way Sissy told you.’ These words will always ring true, and many of us will always ask ourselves: ‘What would Sissy do’?”

Sheldon Pinchuk, a partner in the Finnegan-Pinchuk Company, which produced more than 40 TV movies during the genre’s 1980s-90s heyday as well as TV series Any Day Now and Northern Exposure and features Reality Bites and The Fabulous Baker Boys, died August 28 of Parkinson’s disease at his home in Calabasas, CA. He was 84.

After getting a Bachelor’s and law degrees from UCLA, Pinchuk began his career as a business affairs executive at NBC. While working there, he earned an additional degree from UCLA’s film school and segued into a programming role. Stints at David Dortort’s company and as Head of Development at Warner Bros followed before Pinchuk made another Hollywood career shift, becoming an agent at CAA. There, he represented the husband-and-wife producing team of William and Patricia Finnegan. Based on his lifelong love of aviation, Pinchuk pitched them an idea that became his first TV movie, 1984’s Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac, and the trio launched a producing partnership that flourished for more than two decades.

Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, the Finnegan-Pinchuk Company, housed in the iconic building at the corner of Coldwater Canyon and Ventura Boulevard, produced 50-some MOWs, features and TV series. Five of them were nominated for Emmys, and 12 have been accepted into the Library of Congress as works of cultural or historical significance. These include 1985 TV movie Amos, starring Kirk Douglas; 1985 miniseries The Atlanta Child Murders, featuring Morgan Freeman in his first leading role; and 1988’s Lincoln, starring Sam Waterston and Mary Tyler Moore, which won an Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries.

William Finnegan died in 2008, also of Parkinson’s.

Pinchuk is survived by Barbara, his wife of 57 years; his three children, including TV executive Julie McNamara; four grandchildren; and a slew of friends and former colleagues who remember him as a kind and graceful man known for his great wit, intelligence and integrity.

Joe was a lifelong resident of California living mostly in Monterey County. He passed away after 15 years of fighting Parkinson’s disease while residing at the Mariposa assisted living in Seaside on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. He was 83 years of age. Joe was born at Hazel Hawkins Hospital in Hollister on August 10, 1941 to Ambrosio Lerma and Natalia Lerma. He was the seventh of 10 children. When Joe was eight years old, his family relocated to Greenfield California, where he lived throughout his school years. Joe began his education at Asimas school in Hollister, moving onto Greenfield Elementary and King city high school. After high school Joe enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1960 to 1964. During that time he spent two years as a military policeman. Upon completing his military years, he moved to King city from San Diego with his family and began working for the Pacific Gas & Electric Company; first in Soledad, then transferring to the electric department in Monterey until his retirement in 1995 after thirty years while living in first Marina, then moving to Prunedale. During his early PG&E career, he attended Monterey Peninsula College earning an associate degree in Electronics. After retiring, Joe began working as camp manager at Camp Del Monte in Monterey retiring once again after 24 years. Joe enjoyed playing bocce ball, exercising, reading, watching sports on TV as well as watching stories from the past on MeTV. He was a member of the Monterey Elks club the Marine Corps league 711 Monterey Bay. He enjoyed volunteering for the Boys and Girls clubs throughout the county. Joseph is survived by sons Joseph Lerma (Jayne) of Vista and Loran Lerma (Carol) of Huntington Beach; daughter, Stephanie Lerma of Prunedale; granddaughter, Hayley Lerma (Lucas Garcia) of Prunedale; grandsons, Daniel Lerma of Vista; Shane and Brett Lerma of Huntington Beach; great granddaughters, Gwen and Alayah Garcia Lerma; Ex-Wife Gwen Lerma of Prunedale. Sisters Maxine Gould of Arroyo Seco; Theresa Acosta of Chicago, and brother Jesse Lerma. Also brothers in-law, Gilbert Acosta and David Tavernetti; Many nieces and nephews as well as many many wonderful friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Ted Lerma and Jose Ramon Lerma, sisters Mary Cruz Chapa, Georgie Shaug, Vikki Banuelos and Carmen Lerma. Joe was also preceded in death by his grandson Samuel Joseph Lerma of Vista, CA. 

Jerry Clyde Hatch died in the early hours of Wednesday, August 28, 2024, in Great Falls, Montana. He was 84 years old. He died from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. The first of three surviving children of Clyde Francis Hatch and Ruth Eileen Christiansen, Jerry was born on June 3, 1940, in Humboldt, Iowa, and spent his early life in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Grandson of Floyd Francis Hatch and Rebecca Marion Stratton, and Nels Christiansen and Caroline Hansen, he traced his paternal ancestors to 16th-century County Kent (and Cambridge), and his maternal line to early 18th-century Denmark.

Capable and confident, Jerry was a sturdy and assertive soul and a distinguished educator. Known to friends as strong and independent, he was at heart a small town midwestern boy who fell in love with the Wild West. During his earliest years on Ulstad Avenue in Albert Lea, Jerry enjoyed riding bikes and ice skating but soon became passionate about hunting and fishing. Following WWII, Ulstad was created by veteran families building new homes and new lives. Baby Boomers ran the place. When not shooting buckets or giving pink bellies, they walked the train tracks out to Skunk Hill to build forts, play army, and pick wild asparagus. In later years an adult asked Jerry “Why does wild asparagus grow in straight rows?” Smiling, he pointed to the telephone lines that ran along the tracks: “Birds perch then they poop.” Earthy but true.

Jerry’s early years prepared him for a full life. As an elder Boomer, Jerry was the “Bull” to his friends—Woodside, Greene, Porter, Tasker—all skilled at hunting and trapping. While outdoor activities defined the day, kids saluted the flag at midnight when the TV signed-off. Saturday mornings meant cartoons, Sky King, and Jerry’s signature “Blue Bowl” with bananas and cream. Homemade eggnogs were an occasional treat. A quick learner, he was good at playing chess and cards, skilled with his jigsaw and crystal set, and as time unfolded, he became an Eagle Scout, B-squad wrestler, and leader of the debate team. Here his interest shaped his friendships with Mike Prosser, Tony Gudvangen, and Paul Ell.  High school also meant hot rods, dragging Broadway, and painting names on a growing number of cars—the Blue Goose, Gray Ghost, Gutless Ghost, and Frisky (two blown motors).  

Academic ability and hard work opened doors for an aspiring educator. After graduating from Albert Lea Central High School (1958), he entered Mankato State College (1958-1962) with a BS and MS in Education. Taking additional night classes, his family continued to grow with two sons, Mark Daniel Hatch (1963), and David Matthew Hatch (1965). During this time, he taught 4 years at St. Clair, Minnesota (1961-1966), English and drama, directing a memorable student production of “Our Town.” In 1966 he packed the family in his Chevy wagon and moved to Great Falls, Montana.  One year later, he was appointed Dean of Boys by Montana School District 1, C.M. Russell High School, teaching Speech, Debate, and Drivers Education. Continuing his academic course work, he was promoted to Administrative Assistant (1978-1985) and Assistant Superintendent (1985-1999). He re-married in Spring 1983, Linda Quinn Folsom, teacher, Mental Health Center Administrator, and devoted life partner. Over the decades, Jerry’s administrative duties were interwoven with consulting projects and workshops that took him all over the West Coast. As age made mountains more formidable, his key hobby became financial investments.  Always a good listener, Jerry was never happier than sharing conversations and a cigarette. His best friend was Rory Fagenstrom.  When blizzards hit Montana Jerry would call him and say “Wanna go outside and play?” Hard to imagine two boys and two chained 4X4s.

Jerry seldom showed self-doubt. As the oldest son and father of two boys, as Eagle Scout and star of college debate, his life-long obsession was the out of doors. No one planned better expeditions; no one was a better shot with a rifle. An active family man, few fathers have spent more time with their sons, talking and teaching, hunting and fishing, dirt-biking and snowmobiling. No one is entitled. But he made a good life for his family; he had a full life; he lived in a trailer; he worked hard and was frugal; he parachuted out of airplanes; he had advanced degrees; he was a life-long Mason; he twice visited Europe with family and siblings; he made good investments; he always loved Maid-Rites and Buffalo Pie. And yes, an alpha male; but untouched by bourgeois delusions of a perfect chocolate cookie or unlimited Disney Channels. His humor is memorable. Working at a car wash in college, a customer accidentally closed the trunk on his head. When the customer tried to offer him fifty cents, Jerry held out a fiver and said: “No thanks. Now it’s your turn.”  

Jerry Hatch was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Ruth Hatch (Lakeville, MN); his infant older brother, Larry Lee Hatch (Curlew, IA); and Kenneth Hatch, Lakeville, MN.  Jerry is survived by his wife, Linda Quinn Folsom Hatch, Great Falls, MT; 2 sons, Mark Daniel Hatch, Billings, MT; David Matthew Hatch, Billings, MT; former wife, Evelyn Jo Woods Hatch, Billings; 1 brother, Robert Alan Hatch & Sue Heflin Woolsey, Dunedin, FL, 2 grandchildren, Jessica Nicole Hatch Crevier (Tanner S. Crevier), Billings, MT; and Anthony (Tony) Michael Hatch (Kyah Demaree), Billings. There are 4 great-grandchildren.

Former England football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who made history as the first non-British manager of the England national team has passed away at 76.

The news was confirmed by his family on Monday, in a statement, noting, "Sven-Goran Eriksson has passed away. After a long illness, SGE died during the morning at home surrounded by family."

In January, Eriksson revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer and was given "at best" a year to live.

After retiring as a player at 27, Eriksson began his managerial journey with Degerfors in 1977 and later moved to Gothenburg, where he won the Swedish title, two Swedish Cups, and the 1982 UEFA Cup.

Erikson guided the Three Lions to the quarter-finals in three major tournaments during his leadership from 2001 to 2006.

Moreover, Eriksson enjoyed a remarkable career, managing 12 clubs, including Manchester City, Leicester, Roma, and Lazio, and securing 18 trophies. He also led national teams like Mexico, Ivory Coast, and the Philippines.

He also had successful tenures with Portuguese giants Benfica and Italian clubs Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, and Lazio, where he won seven trophies, including the Serie A title, two Italian Cups, and the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Kevin Hickman, co-founder of Aotearoa’s largest retirement village operator and an influential figure in the racing industry, died on Friday.

Based in Christchurch, the 74-year-old former detective-turned-rich-lister was known for co-founding Ryman Healthcare in 1984, with a kaupapa that it had to be good for his own mum.

He was involved in the company for 34 years, during which it was listed on the stock exchange and became the largest retirement village operator in New Zealand.

Former Ryman chief executive Simon Challies said Hickman was a man who wanted to be respected more than liked, “[But he] achieved both because he was a very personable guy.”

Challies vividly recalled the day in 2006 when he succeeded Hickman in the executive chair. His predecessor emptied his office entirely and left a single post-it note on the desk for Challies to find: “It’s all yours, don’t cock it up.”

Hickman took risks on people, Challies said, giving them opportunity and self-belief to achieve.

“He was an incredible hard worker and he was incredibly well-researched. He would study topics, whether it was racing or retirement villages...more than anyone else.”

Ryman Healthcare facilities currently home more than 14,000 residents across New Zealand and Australia, according to the company website.

Hickman was also known for his work in the thoroughbred industry as a sponsor, breeder and owner.

He was made an Officer of the Order of Merit in 2016 for his services to charities, including the Christchurch Medical Research Fund and the Champion Centre for young children with disabilities.​

Allen, Norman Paul age 74 of Lake Elmo, MN, passed away from complications of Parkinson's Disease on August 23, 2024 at Prelude Assisted Living. Born on March 8, 1950 in Minneapolis to Alice and Gerhard Allen. Preceded in death by his parents and brother, Gary. Survived by wife, Patricia, sons, Kevin (Ekaterina) and Gregory, three granddaughters (Maggie, Lilia and Rosie), brother Dick (Jean), sister-law, Sharon Bledsoe (Bill) and brother-in-law, Don Welch (Antje) and other relatives and friends. Norm graduated from Cretin High School and U of M Dental School. He worked for Health Partners for 35 years.

In 1936, a Bulgarian-American woman, Rosie Oxner gave birth to William Oxner at home in Arkansas alongside her husband, Bryant Oxner, and her son, Marco. Siblings Louise and Mary Rose would later arrive. The family share-cropped cotton. They lived in a tent one year and lacked electricity for the first decade of Bill's life. They would later save enough money to buy their own farm.
Bill became the basketball team captain, class president, and valedictorian-in a class of four people. He went to college and then to University of Arkansas medical school on scholarship. But then he shot himself in the foot, by which I mean, he literally shot himself in the foot while climbing a fence without his shotgun breached. Folks, it doesn't get much more Southern than this.
After his accident, Bill managed regional grocery store account sales for Warner Lambert, purveyor of Schick razors, Listerine, and Benadryl. He lived in the Houston singles neighborhood known as "Sin City" and met Paulette at the pool and started dating her.
Paulette broke up with Bill when he wouldn't marry her. Then after she came home from a date, Bill popped up from behind her couch and proposed. They got married in Galveston, Texas.
The company moved Bill to New Orleans where Paulette gave birth to Cathy, this obituary's narrator. Bill dropped Paulette off at the hospital saying that there was no reason for two people to lose a night's sleep. He made up it for it later sharing in all the diaper changing and doing all the nail trimming and bathing himself-and a whole lot of other things too.
The family returned to the Houston area, and Bill hunted or fished every weekend. He kept his guns in a locked case and believed passionately in gun control and campaign finance reform until the day he died.
He also cooked everything he caught-for everyone all the time. Everyone loved his Trout Meuniere and his fish fries.
Despite being sociable, Bill hung up every phone call between 30 seconds and three minutes without saying goodbye. He also often prank-called Cathy's friends-he would pretend to be Santa Claus or a Leprechaun. He got down on his knees at movie theatres and asked for two children's tickets. When the pond froze over, he took Cathy in the rowboat to pretend they were exploring the Arctic.
In the 80's, Bill hired lawyer, Elliot Tucker, and sued Warner Lambert at a jury trial and won. He then retired early to fish and take his bird dogs on field trials. His dogs performed well-at least one was a national finalist. He loved dogs so much-and he forced the family to watch Beverly Hills Chihuahua multiple times.
The family all loved to watch movies and to read. Bill had a condition known as alexithymia that prevented him from seeing emotions. But he empathized deeply with book characters and felt compassion for others when he was able to understand them. He tried to give money away to every homeless person he ever saw and sometimes gave money away to people whom he mistook for homeless when he misread the situation.
He lost Paulette to cancer in 2013. In 2016, he gained a son-in-law, Nick. Nick and Cathy ultimately realized that many of Bill's lifelong behaviors were consistent with the autism spectrum.
In 2021, a doctor diagnosed Bill with Parkinson's. After a bad fall, he came to live with Cathy and Nick in Macon, Georgia where Cathy was a tenured law professor and program director. Family friend, Cathy-June Hegdahl helped care for Bill in and his dog for a year and took him to the grocery store frequently, where he barked at dogs and asked ladies if they did their own hair.
After a doctor diagnosed Cathy with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, the family moved to Laguna Niguel, California to be close to her medical care. They took Bill to eat his favorite meals by the ocean, at the beach, and in the park. He rode the Dana Point Trolley around town. The family cat purred on his bed, and his Yorkie sniffed around his bedside.
He went to greet his departed pets, wife, and loved ones on the rainbow bridge on August 22, 2024.