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NEWS FROM THE HAVEN — PAGE 8Introducing … Warren HartmanBorn Oct. 7, 1923 in rural Strawn,Warren Edward Hartman was a sonof Silas and Elizabeth (Kuenzi) Hartman.Besides his twin, Wayne, wholives in Racine, WI; Warren had sevensiblings, including: Gladys Memler ofDowners Grove; Betty Hibner of Napervilleand Don Hartman of Bloomington.Four of his siblings are nowdeceased: (Vernon Hartman, Art Hartman,Caroline Schaffer and MarjorieSchaffer).Growing up on the farm, Warren sayshe and his brothers and sisters startedworking “as soon as we were able to.”They did chores, milked cows andhelped their father in the field.Warren attended Strawn grade schooland graduated from Strawn High Schoolin 1941. He says he liked to study“everything, especially math.”After school, Warren worked forGeorge and Alice Lehmann. But he alwaysknew he wanted to be a farmer, sowhen the opportunity came in 1949, hebegan farming on his own.On Dec. 7, 1947, Warren married MabelWinterland. They had four children:Linda Schmidgall of Morris, MN; RonHartman of Forrest; Ann Kachelmuss ofBloomington; and Nora Langan of Lakewood.Sadly, Mabel passed away July 5,1964. Warren then married Louise Me-John George Lorch was born Dec.15, 1925 in rural Weston, the son ofGeorge and Anna Mary (Readle)Lorch. John’s mother was married previouslyand her first husband passedaway. So John had four older halfsiblings,Ray Roeseler (who died as ateenager), Karl Roeseler, Marie Kohlmanand Ida Ruth Roach. He also hada full sister and brother, Rose Bushmanand Bernhardt “Ben” Lorch. All hissiblings are deceased now.Farming was a way of life for John.He started out milking cows when hewas small and, when he got older,helped out in the fields, driving thetractors and horses. The Lorches hadcows, chickens and hogs and he andhis siblings kept busy doing chores andgardening. John also recalls some relaxingtimes when they went fishing inthe creek.John attended Garber countryschool, 1 ½ miles from their home. Herecalls that his father built a small covnoldon Sept. 13, 1966.Warren has a gift with carpentry. Heand his brother, Vernon, and HomerBlunier started a carpentry business togethercalled HB&H. They built andremodeled homes and put up a lot ofsteel bins. Warren also used his carpentryskills over the years as a volunteer.He helped build ten different ApostolicChristian churches across the nation.Over the years, Warren and Louiseenjoyed having guests and did a lot ofentertaining. They also traveled, includingtrips to Europe, Central America,Alaska and the western United States.Warren is a member of the Fairbury ApostolicChristian Church, and his faith isan important part of his life.In 1988, Warren and Louise retiredfrom farming and moved to town. Warrenkept busy in his woodshop and helpingothers with volunteer projects afterCONTINUED ON PAGE 9Introducing … John Lorchered wagon and they hitched their ponyto the wagon to take them to school.Later, John attended Fairbury TownshipHigh School. He says he liked to study,although he wasn’t very fond of algebraand geometry. He must’ve had an ornerystreak – he told about a prank thathe played on one of his teachers, lockingher into her classroom over thelunch hour!After graduation from high school in1943, John wanted to go to the Navy.He was only 17 years old, so he had towait until after his 18 th birthday beforehe could volunteer. Following basictraining and diesel school, John wentaboard an LST and headed for the Philippinesand Okinawa. John liked beingat sea. He worked as a motor machinistand he spent a lot of time in the engineroom of the ship. He recalls night raidsby the Japanese, either with bombs orkamikaze pilots. Their ship was gettingready to go to Japan when the bombswere dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,ending the war.After the war, the ship that John wasserving on got caught in a typhoon. Johnremembers the terrific winds which blewtheir ship aground and wrecked it. Later,the ship had to be towed to Guam forCONTINUED ON PAGE 9