Farmers, neighbors remember Reidelbach
Although the weather caused for a wet cold harvest of several cornfields on Oct. 27, those in the combines and trucks were focused on helping out a fellow farmer’s family.
Several gathered from across the county and beyond to remember a man who was respected and as giving as those who were working in the fields. Those who brought the services of their combines, auger carts and semis were remembering Winamac farmer Tim Reidelbach.
Tim J. Reidelbach, 57, of Winamac, was injured in a grain elevator accident in Francesville on Sept. 26. Tim passed away two weeks later on Oct. 10.
The Reidelbach family has 1,200 acres in about 30 fields that are located in different areas from CR 500 N. to Pulaski. This year, Tim and his son Wyatt where farming corn.
When the community heard about the horrific event of the elevator explosion that injured both Tim and Glenn Tiede, of Francesville, the urge to help grew into a community event of harvesting the Reidelbach family crops.
On Oct. 27, there were about 18-20 combines farming the cornfields at the same time. Kasten anticipated about 70 semi trucks helping haul the corn. Meals were then provided by Bethel Bible Church, Bill and Babe’s and Beck’s.
Tim, who was a lifelong Pulaski County farmer, started farming when he was about 20 years old. Kasten said Tim’s passion was farming.
Those who planned to help for the day arrived at the fields before 10 a.m. with combines, auger carts and semis. Trucks could be seen lining the fields and the drivers received instructions as to where the corn was to be delivered. Some of the instructions included keeping the corn separate in certain fields.
Tim Kuhn who arrived with three semis in the area of CR 550 S., east of SR 39, said Tim “would do it for us. He was the best of the best. He was really good at what he did and loved doing it.”
Kuhn was one of several people who arrived at the property on CR 550 S. There were about 111 acres of farmland that were harvested.
“It could have been any one of us,” Kuhn said.
The sight of farmers coming together to help one of their own is not new to Pulaski County. To one family, the Alexanders, the sight was too familiar.
In September of 1993, Tim Alexander fell from a ladder while working on a grain bin. The injury caused him to be paralyzed from the neck down. At the time farmers didn’t hesitate to gather and help him harvest his fields just as they helped Tim Reidelbach.
Alexander also didn’t hesitate to help the Reidelbach family. While semis and combines were arriving at the fields, so was Alexander, who donated two semis to be used to haul the corn.
“I’ve known Tim for a long time. He has been a good friend to me,” Alexander said. “When we heard about the accident, we felt terrible and we wanted to be there to help get his crops out.”
Alexander said he knew Tim well because they served on a co-operative board of directors together.
“Tim always had such a good attitude, always positive and just a friendly happy guy,” Alexander said. “He was very diligent in his work. He was always well-prepared for meetings and took care of all the details — just a good hardworking guy.”