Heavy heart.......

Mizzou B-ball fan · 10-11-2012, 10:19 AM

Some of you may remember a few years ago where I made an unfortunate off-hand comment about the 'short bus' that I regretted (and said so) in hindsight due to the fact that I had a family member that should have caused me to be more sensitive to those kinds of comments.

This weekend, Wallace passed away.

Quote:

Wallace W. Heermann, 75, of Emma, MO, died Saturday, October 6, 2012, at Apple Ridge Care Center in Waverly, MO.

Born March 6, 1937, in Sullivan County, MO, he was the son of the late Hugo Heermann and Leona Haesemeier Heermann. He had lived in the Emma community most of his life and was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Emma. He had worked at the Sheltered Workshop in Higginsville, MO.

Survivors include numerous cousins.

He was a fantastic influence on my childhood and later in life. Wallace was born with mental disabilities (not sure of the exact reason behind it). He was an adult who had the mental abilities of a 10 year old. But that didn't deter him in any way from having a full and enjoyable life.

I can remember Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners where we got to hang out with Wallace all day when we were kids. The family was large so we always had adult and kids tables to sit at. Wallace would always sit with us at the kids tables, despite the fact that he was in his mid 40s while we were in elementary school. He loved to hang out with us, goof around with cars and Lincoln Logs, and we thought he was the greatest adult ever. He loved to tell bad jokes and ham it up with the adults. He didn't have a mean bone in his body.

He occasionally brought 'girlfriends' from his community to gatherings as we got older. It was always fun to see them hanging out and in the puppy love stage. They'd think that holding hands was the most risque thing you could ever do.

He worked at a workshop assembling things like Easter Eggs for his whole life. He loved to go to work, even though the tasks that they were doing would bore most of us to tears in a few days. He loved making money and taking it to buy something that interested him.

He lived to 75 years of age, which is incredible. In an age where most parents would have taken a child like him to a home, his parents did a great job of raising him to be a great person and a great contributor to society. They've long passed away, but they were way ahead of their time and they deserve a great deal of credit as well.

I'm sure that Wallace is in a much better place now and I'm happy for him.

BYU 14 · 10-11-2012, 10:22 AM

Thoughts and prayers to you and your family MBBF. Very nice tribute to him as well.

RIP Wallace

Subby · 10-11-2012, 10:31 AM

Great picture. RIP.

Kodos · 10-11-2012, 10:37 AM

Thanks for sharing this. Sometimes it is too easy to make fun of people who were born with an issue that was beyond their control.

JediKooter · 10-11-2012, 11:01 AM

Sorry to hear about your loss. Sounds like despite his disability, he lived a pretty happy life and had a caring family.

Don't beat yourself up. We all say silly/stupid things throughout our lives.

Lathum · 10-11-2012, 11:14 AM

he looks like a fun guy, sorry for your loss

Flasch186 · 10-11-2012, 12:55 PM

nice post man RIP

RainMaker · 10-11-2012, 01:42 PM

Very sorry for your loss. Sounds like he had a great life.

JPhillips · 10-11-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Very sorry for your loss. Sounds like he had a great life.

This. Doesn't make the loss any easier, but he lived a full and meaningful life.

God bless.

Grover · 10-11-2012, 02:41 PM

Great post. Thanks for sharing.

My thoughts are with you on your loss.

CleBrownsfan · 10-11-2012, 05:45 PM

Sorry for your loss MBBF... sounds like a very well spirited man. RIP Wallace

Abe Sargent · 10-11-2012, 05:48 PM

You and yours are in my prayers

BigDPW · 10-11-2012, 07:17 PM

Sorry to hear about your families loss. Thanks for the tribute to him. Sounds like a great person who was very special to you and your family.

General Mike · 10-11-2012, 07:30 PM

Sorry MBBF. As someone who works in that field I can relate as one of the guys at the workshop I work at passed away at the end of April. Took a lot out of me.

digamma · 10-11-2012, 08:49 PM

Great story about the girlfriends. RIP.

10-11-2012, 10:22 AM	#2
BYU 14 Coordinator Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The scorched Desert	Thoughts and prayers to you and your family MBBF. Very nice tribute to him as well. RIP Wallace Last edited by BYU 14 : 10-11-2012 at 11:33 AM.

10-11-2012, 10:31 AM	#3
Subby lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: sans pants	Great picture. RIP. __________________ Superman was flying around and saw Wonder Woman getting a tan in the nude on her balcony. Superman said I going to hit that real fast. So he flys down toward Wonder Woman to hit it and their is a loud scream. The Invincible Man scream what just hit me in the ass!!!!! I do shit, I take pictures, I write about it: chrisshue.com

10-11-2012, 10:37 AM	#4
Kodos Resident Alien Join Date: Jun 2001	Thanks for sharing this. Sometimes it is too easy to make fun of people who were born with an issue that was beyond their control. __________________ Author of The Bill Gates Challenge, as well as other groundbreaking dynasties.

10-11-2012, 11:01 AM	#5
JediKooter Coordinator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: San Diego via Sausalito via San Jose via San Diego	Sorry to hear about your loss. Sounds like despite his disability, he lived a pretty happy life and had a caring family. Don't beat yourself up. We all say silly/stupid things throughout our lives. __________________ I'm no longer a Chargers fan, they are dead to me Coming this summer to a movie theater near you: The Adventures of Jedikooter: Part 4

10-11-2012, 12:55 PM	#7
Flasch186 Coordinator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Jacksonville, FL	nice post man RIP __________________ Jacksonville-florida-homes-for-sale Putting a New Spin on Real Estate! ----------------------------------------------------------- Commissioner of the USFL USFL

10-11-2012, 11:14 AM	#6
Lathum Favored Bitch #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: homeless in NJ	he looks like a fun guy, sorry for your loss

10-11-2012, 01:42 PM	#8
RainMaker General Manager Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chicago, IL	Very sorry for your loss. Sounds like he had a great life.

10-11-2012, 02:41 PM	#10
Grover Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Lisboa, ME	Great post. Thanks for sharing. My thoughts are with you on your loss. __________________ Come On You Irons! West Ham United \| Philadelphia Flyers \| Cincinnati Bengals \| Kansas City Royals FOFC Greatest Band Draft Runner Up FOFC Movie Remake Draft Winner FOFC Movie Comedy Draft Winner

10-11-2012, 05:45 PM	#11
CleBrownsfan Pro Rookie Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: C-Town	Sorry for your loss MBBF... sounds like a very well spirited man. RIP Wallace __________________ *XBox Gamertag:* Pronk32 FOOL-X - Cleveland Naps FOOL - Cleveland Cyclones SLOP - Cuyahoga Spiders

10-11-2012, 05:48 PM	#12
Abe Sargent Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Catonsville, MD	You and yours are in my prayers __________________ Check out my two current weekly Magic columns! https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/?action=search&page=1&author[]=Abe%20Sargent

10-11-2012, 07:17 PM	#13
BigDPW College Prospect Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Raleigh, NC	Sorry to hear about your families loss. Thanks for the tribute to him. Sounds like a great person who was very special to you and your family.

10-11-2012, 07:30 PM	#14
General Mike Pro Starter Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The State of Rutgers	Sorry MBBF. As someone who works in that field I can relate as one of the guys at the workshop I work at passed away at the end of April. Took a lot out of me.

10-11-2012, 08:49 PM	#15
digamma Torchbearer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: On Lake Harriet	Great story about the girlfriends. RIP.

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