6 minute read
News & Notes
Farewells
John Robert “Bob” Gordon,
82, of Lincoln, passed away on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at his home. John Robert “Mutt” Gordon was born October 6, 1939, the son of Mark and Effie Mae Gordon. He was united in marriage to Judith Heinzel on December 27, 1960. She survives.
He is also survived by their children: Mark (Denise Costello) Gordon, Angela (Brad) Sheley, and Vanessa (Scott) Tibbs; four grandchildren: Shelden (Lindsey) Tibbs, Hannah (Jase) Camp, Reagan Tibbs, and Cole (Gabby Williams) Sheley; and three great-grandchildren: Jackson Tibbs, Carter Camp, and Baylor
Mr. James “Jim”
R. Bloomberg, 66 of rural Berwick, passed away Thursday, May 19, 2022, as a result of a farm accident. He was born November 12, 1955 in Kewanee, the son of James and JoAnn (Carlson) Bloomberg. He was raised by his mother and her second husband, John Williams. Jim married Mary E. Ray on December 29, 1984 at the Abingdon Christian Church.
He is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Mary; his children, Blake (Wravenna) Bloomberg of Secor, Jamie (Cade) Halfmann of Garden City, Texas and Jake Bloomberg of Berwick; his Tibbs.
Bob was preceded in death by one sister, Betty Treatch and one brother, Gerry Gordon.
Bob was a graduate of Lincoln Community High School in1958. He served in the United States Air Force. Bob held an Associate’s Degree from ICC in Criminal Justice. He attended Oklahoma University for US Postal Service Security training and retired from the USPS as a Postmaster. He then worked as a Logan County Bailiff. Bob was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council 1250 -Third & Fourth Degree and past Grand Knight. He was a member of American Legion Post 263 and American Shorthorn Association. Bob served as a leader in many organizations: President of the Logan County 4-H
grandchildren, Breckyn Bloomberg, Hayzen Halfmann, Brenhem Bloomberg, Berwick Bloomberg, Bexton Bloomberg and Humble James Halfmann; his siblings, Johnny Williams of Toulon and Gina Williams of Eureka; and his beloved in-laws who were more like parents to him, David and Editha Ray of rural Berwick.
He was preceded in death by his parents and father who raised him John Williams, and one brother, Josef Bloomberg.
Jim graduated from Normal Community High School and attended Illinois State University. He was a lifelong farmer and cattleman and was a co-owner of Bloomberg Cattle with his family. He was a very active community minded person. Jim was the president of the Abingdon School Board, District Youth Council, Logan County 4-H Beef Superintendent, Broadwell School Board Member, Carroll Catholic School Board Member, Lector/Usher at Holy Family Church and Usher at St. Pat’s Church. He enjoyed watching NASCAR and served as a pit crew member for an ARCA race team. He was an avid Boston Celtics and Atlanta Braves fan, loved watching his kids and grandkids participate in their various activities, loved traveling and spending time with family in California, and loved his farm life and exhibiting cattle at many local, state and national shows. He was a lover of history, sports and geography.
Memorials may be made to Land of Lincoln Honor Flight, Memorial Home Hospice, or Shorthorn Foundation. =
217 for 16 years. He was a member of the Illinois Simmental Board and member of the Illinois Beef Expo committee. He was a wonderful cattleman and was loved and respected by thousands across the industry. He was a renown livestock evaluator, remembered for his honesty, integrity and ability to connect with young people. He was “Mr. Fix It” around the farm and enjoyed mechanics. Most of all, he was the most loving son, husband, father, brother and forever our PaPa Jim.
Memorials may be made to the Black Hawk East Livestock Judging Team, where there will be a scholarship set up in his memory or to the Willing Workers 4-H Club, where all three of his children were active members. =
A farmer. A grocer. A man of God. Family man. Bodybuilder. Yo-yo champion.
Roger Schmidt
was many things and for many people in Sequim he may have been their first boss, an ear to listen and/or a go-to person for produce and groceries.
The Sunny Farms Country Store founder died at age 81 on April 5 of Parkinson’s Disease. He was buried in Dungeness Cemetery with plans for a celebration of life at a later date.
Roger Schmidt was born in Port Angeles to Ken Schmidt and Alice (Sands). Later their family moved to Bremerton where Ken supervised painting naval ships.
His interests varied in life from fast cars to preserving water for agriculture to tilling gardens to his faith in God and love for his family, including seven grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren.
“He was a man of God,” Ellie said. “Rather than preach his faith, he lived it.” – Ellie Schmidt Many family friends said Roger was never happier than on a tractor with “his hands in the soil, tilling the earth,” too.
At age 12, Roger was proud of being crowned King County’s yo-yo champion and winning a Schwinn bicycle. In high school, he played basketball and football and found a liking for weightlifting where he won many trophies. He graduated from Shoreline High School in 1959, intending to become a history teacher.
Roger married his wife Ellie on Oct. 14, 1962. Jeff, their oldest son, was born in 1964, followed by daughters Susan and Sarah. Both Roger and Ellie felt led to raise their family in the country, so they looked around Washington and Oregon and were alerted to their current property on Heath Road.
Roger moved first to Sequim in 1972 to establish their Sequim farm Olympic Mountain View Nursery planting peas, beans, potatoes and other food, while continuing to work in Seattle.
The family moved full-time to Sequim in 1974.
Sunny Farms opened June 5, 1979, with a permanent storefront.
Jeff said his dad helped him invest in establishing the JR Ranch (Jeff and Roger Ranch) in Othello in the fall of 1991. “It was a blessing,” Jeff said. “He set me up for success at a young age.” It supplies some of the meat to Sunny Farms from more than 1,800 cattle in Othello.
Roger employed thousands of people in his life, including people who met and married through Sunny Farms and their children came back to work there also.
Jeff said his dad was humble and a mentor to many people. “Dad persevered so many times as he thought failure was imminent [with other stores opening]. But dad was always successful.”
Throughout his time starting and operating Sunny Farms, her dad felt so supported by the community and his customers.
“To him, that’s what it was all about,” -Sarah Thomas. =
Welcome to the Shorthorn Family
Callahan Brooks Jordan
Born April 23, 2022 - 7 lbs 13 oz, 21 inches long Joins his family at Waukaru Farms, Rensselaer, IN Siblings Jack, Chloe, Charlotte and Jemma Jordan Parents Toby & Jodi Jordan Grandparents Barry & Anita Jordan
Wesley Evelyn Smith
Born April 2, 2022 Parents: Mitchell and Courtney Smith We are looking forward to many years sharing our love for the Shorthorn breed with her and raising her around all of the wonderful people who come with it!
2021-22 SOUTH CENTRAL REGION SHORTHORNPLUS FEMALE OF THE YEAR
TCC Wyoming Wind 206
Kadin Kinder Worthington, El Reno, Okla.
Henry AllenSaxonburg, PA
What is your must have item at a cattle show?
Radio, bcause its fun to blow dry cattle with music playing
What is your favorite show product?
Klean Sheen
What is your favorite activity outside of AJSA?
Baseball
What do you want to be when you grow up/future plans?
Mechanic
American Shorthorn Association
1872 2022
Celebrating 150 years of...
