The Golden Roll

Raymond Alber, 85, Saline, Mich., passed away
Oct. 13, 2004. A lifelong Saline resident, he was born Feb. 14,
1919, in Saline. Ray’s long association with steam began early in
his life by firing his father’s 19-65 HP Port Huron, serial no.
8635, on the sawmill. He was a long time member of the National
Thresher’s Assn. in Wauseon, Ohio, where he always displayed his
16-50 HP Port Huron. He also owned the Allis-Chalmers Model A
tractor his father purchased in 1938.

Ray was an auto mechanic during his adult life and owned Ray’s
Auto Service in Saline. He was also a Saline fireman for 37 years.
He was fire chief for several years before his retirement in 1984.
His many friends in the old tractor and steam community will miss
him.

Survivors include his wife Sally, three daughters, Ruth Wier of
Wilmington, N.C.; Lois Gannon of Ypsilanti, Mich.; Marquetta
Williams of Meeker, Okla.; seven grandchildren, four
great-grandchildren and two sisters.

Submitted by Stan Alber, Clark Lake, Mich.

Merrill Brown, one of the last steam engineers
in our area, passed away on Dec. 15, 2004. Merrill was born March
20, 1906, in Smallwood Township, Jasper County, Ill. He was trained
by his father at a young age to run and manage a traction engine.
At 17 he went to work for a neighbor as engineer on a
Keck-Gonnerman, rear mount, single-cylinder engine, threshing in
the summer and sawing in the off season. I was honored to have him
run my engine.

After an approximate 10-year employment as an engineer he worked
for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural mail carrier for well over
30 years. He was also well known around the state of Illinois as
the owner of several successful racehorses. Merrill was an
interesting, fine fellow and I was privileged to know him.

Submitted by Jim and Kim Russell, Oblong, Ill.

Glen J. Brutus, 83, of Pine Village, Ind., died
on Jan. 2, 2005. Glen was one of the great collectors of Case steam
engines and other steam equipment.

He was born Feb. 24, 1921, and was raised on his father’s farm.
Glen was a graduate from Pine Village High School and attended
Purdue University. In 1942, he joined the U.S. Army. During the
Battle of the Bulge, he was captured near St. Vith, Belgium, on
Dec. 19, 1944. The Allies bombed the camp he was in while he and
his fellow prisoners were locked in railroad cars. Glen’s gripping
account of that night’s momentous events was told in “The Steam
Engine Collecting of Glen J. Brutus” on pages 22-28 of the
January/February 2000 issue of Iron-Men Album. Upon his
return to the U.S., Glen completed his service as a military
policeman, and was discharged in 1945. Glen was the recipient of
two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. In 1952, he married Barbara
Howarth and returned to farming.

He began collecting Case steam engines, as well as a few engines
built by other manufacturers. For several years, his 110 HP Case
was a featured attraction at the Indiana State Fair. Glen was a
member of the Antique Motorcycle Assn. of America.

Survivors include: daughter, Susan Brutus, Whitestown, Ind.;
sons, Eric and (Patricia) Brutus and Barry Brutus, Pine Village;
and two brothers: Richard Brutus of Safety Harbor, Fla.; and Paul
Brutus of Columbus, Ind.

Submitted by Robert T. Rhode, Springboro, Ohio.

George William Hedtke, 81, of Davis Junction,
Ill., died Feb. 1, 2005, in Swedish American Hospital in Rockford,
Ill. He was born May 5, 1923, in rural Kings, Ill. He worked as an
electrician, but his passion was his Hickory Oaks farm and his
collection of antique farm machinery. He graduated from Stillman
Valley High School, and was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in
Lindenwood, Ill., and an U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.

George survived by his brother, Howard (Suzette) Hedtke of
Lindenwood.

Submitted by Mark Corson, Crown Point, Ind.