People William Heindl Passes Away

Career in potato production included equipment repair and operations manager

William “Bill” H. Heindl, age 55, of Knowlton, Wisconsin, peacefully passed on February 11, 2023. Bill was born December 1, 1967, in Wisconsin Rapids, to Lester and Ramona (Holloway) Heindl. He was raised in the Kellner area and graduated from Lincoln High School.

After high school, Bill began his career in potato production with Okray Family Farms working on equipment repair. On August 31, 1995, Bill went to work with Nick and Dianne Somers at Plover River Farms. For the last 20 years as operations manager, or as Bill would say “a farmer,” his relentless work ethic, endless patience, willingness to teach, and desire to learn demonstrated his outstanding leadership that inspired all.

Bill was a selfless, genuine human being with not only a willingness, but also a desire to help people and offer his time. He dedicated himself wholly to what was most important. Bill had an unconditional love for his wife, children, grandchildren, raising his dogs/companions, hunting, fishing, and farming.

Bill married Julie A. Rasmussen on May 20, 1995, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kellner. This union created a new family for Bill, adding two daughters to his life.

Bill is survived by his wife, Julie Heindl; children, Heather (Kenneth) Gollon and Brittany (Dennis Cota) Higgins; grandchildren, Madison, Bianca, Wyatt, Kenneth Jr., Victoria, Evan, Peyton, Bayleigh, and Taylor; great grandchild, Valentina; and parents, Lester and Ramona Heindl. He is further survived by siblings, Robert (Nancy) Heindl, Kim Heindl Dietzen, Tim (Nancy) Heindl, and Doug (Cindy) Heindl; in-laws, Sandy (Steven) Fletcher, Diane (Mark) Beranek, Allen Rasmussen Jr., and Brian (Tammy) Rasmussen; many nieces and nephews; and his fourlegged friends: Penny, Yuma, Drake, and the new 15 puppies.

He is preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Loretta Rasmussen; father-in-Law, Allen Rasmussen Sr.; sister-in-law, Rox-Ann Heindl; brotherin-law, Keith Kitsembel-Rasmussen; and his grandparents, Verona and Ivan Reed, Lester Heindl Sr., Clara and

Ed Marwitz, and Clifford Holloway.

A time of visitation was held at Boston Funeral Home, Stevens Point, on February 18, 2023, followed by a funeral service to commemorate Bill’s life.

Online condolences can be made at www.bostonfuneralhome.net.

Becky Eddy Receives UW CALS Award

Agricultural Research Station program recognizes outstanding contributions

On January 18, Becky Eddy, superintendent, and research program manager for the Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station (RARS), received the Staff Recognition Award from the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison College of Agricultural & Life Sciences (CALS).

CALS held its annual Agricultural Research Stations (ARS) Recognition

Awards Reception and Dinner at Rex’s Innkeeper in Waunakee.

The 2023 ARS Recognition Awards recipients are:

• Matt Akins (Animal and Dairy Sciences) – Recognition Award for Research

• Jamie Reichert (Animal and Dairy Sciences) – Recognition Award for Service

In a letter nominating Eddy for the Staff Award, Jeffrey Endelman, associate professor in the UWMadison Department of Horticulture, said, “One of the qualities I value about Becky is her continual search for ways to improve the RARS facility and streamline operations.”

“One major challenge that tested Becky’s leadership came in 2018, when we detected a rare potato pathogen in the RARS greenhouses called potato spindle tuber viroid, or PSTVd,” Endelman noted. “Becky relied on her previous experience and industry contacts to develop new protocols that allowed us to eliminate PSTVd from our germplasm in only two years,” he said.

“She has seen the Rhinelander Agricultural Research Station [RARS] through a number of significant challenges during her tenure,” Endelman continued, “including navigating labor shortages, and staff requirements.”

“Eddy’s accomplishments over the past seven years have been transformative for RARS and for the potato breeding program, which has achieved a number of scientific milestones over the past several years,” he remarked, “and continues to have the confidence and respect of Wisconsin’s seed potato growers.”

Extensive Logistics

Endelman went on to explain that, each winter, thousands of pounds of seed potatoes are shipped from RARS to locations across the country for trialing, and Becky manages the extensive logistics and communication required for this effort.

In spring, he added, Becky manages preparation of the seed for breeding program trials at the Rhinelander and Hancock Agricultural Research Stations.

“In fall, I know I can count on Becky to help with our Hancock harvest when needed, which is a 12-hour day for her, and she manages the postharvest fry quality evaluations for the breeding program at the Hancock station in December and March,” Endelman stated.

Troy Fishler, superintendent of HARS, called Becky one of the hardest- working colleagues he’s had the pleasure to work with. “On numerous occasions, I have had the opportunity to witness Becky leading by example, often being the first to volunteer for the less-than-desirable tasks that often present themselves in our agriculture profession,” he stated. “This work ethic, coupled with her resolve to always do the right thing, speaks volumes about her character and is inherent to her DNA,” Fishler said. “She continues to have a tremendous impact on improving the potato breeding program in Rhinelander and exemplifies the mission of the university.”

In 2020, The Badger Common’Tater honored Eddy by naming her among five “Outstanding Women of Wisconsin Agriculture.”

The CALS Staff Recognition Awards program began with a reception followed by award presentations and dinner. An abundance of food provided during the reception and dinner included turkey, roast beef, and of course, cheesy potatoes.