Remembering Nathan Hieronymus: A New

Remembering Nathan Hieronymus A new meaning to the Family Farm

Dan Reynolds helping Tom finish up harvest.

“People always say, ‘call me if you need anything,’ but you Whether he was riding to the elevator in the grain truck with his has been following in his father’s footsteps and wants to be involved can’t call someone and ask for a mom or learning how to drive the as much as he can. “He was a born combine,” says Connie Hieronymus. tractor through the field with his farmer,” says Connie. “He already “Our friends just showed up when dad, he always wanted to be involved knows more about farming than we needed them most.” on the family farm in some way. most farmers do. We want to keep 2020 has been a challenging year for After graduating from Parkland most everyone in one way or another, College, Nathan began working with In the midst of grieving the loss but what the Hieronymus family his dad full-time, becoming the fifth of their son, Tom and Connie had has gone through this year changed generation in the family to farm in no choice but to begin thinking their lives forever. On July 20, 2020, Farmer City, Illinois. Nathan had about how they were going to get Tom and Connie Hieronymus’s son, been transitioning into taking on the crop out this fall with harvest Nathan, passed away unexpectedly more ownership of the farm over quickly approaching. At first, Tom at just 42 years old. The emotions the last several years. In the spring thought that he could have local they have had to work through and of 2019, Nathan purchased his first grain elevators send semi-trucks out the hardships they have experienced piece of farm equipment, a Case to help haul their grain, and they these past several months are IH Magnum. Although their time could figure out the rest from there. hard to put into words, but the unexpectedly got cut short, Nathan However, before any plans could be outpouring of support that the and Tom got to farm together for 20 made, family, friends, and neighbors farming community around them years. from near and far began reaching has offered has been an unbelievable out to the Hieronymus family with blessing to their family. Nathan and his wife, Ashley, have one common question: what can we two children, Paisley (8) and Hank do to help? From a very young age, Nathan (4), who also love to be in the field developed a love for farming. with their grandparents. Hank this going for him.” 21 Central Illinois Ag www.centralilag.com

Four generations of Hieronymus Farms in front of Nathan’s Magnum.

It started with Connie’s sister, there. Father and son Mike and Laurie Franklin, and her husband, Michael Bushman showed up with Greg. Without being asked, Laurie their semis to offer more help with decided to take a leave of absence trucking, as did Russ Pearl with from her job at Growing Grounds Pearl Trucking. Nathan’s father-into drive the auger wagon for them law, Rick Noble, stepped in to help this fall. Greg dedicated his two as well, and neighbors Kurt Wells, days off of work each week to being Drew Wells, and Frank Glen were in the field as well. Connie and Tom right behind him. were shocked at the start of harvest when he showed up and asked Kurt, Drew, and Frank had just “what do I do?” finished up for the day and saw Tom harvesting a 130 acre field with mile “You don’t ask, you just show up,” long rows, so they brought their Tom and Nathan says Greg. “It was the right thing to combine, semi, and auger wagon do.” over to help him finish up that field that night. Connie says that Bryce Zacharias from Parkersburg, Hank was riding along that day and Iowa, a close friend of the when he pointed out that the Wells’ Hieronymus family, had the same combine was green, she reminded mindset this fall. One day he him, “It may be green, but it’s love.” reached out to Tom and said that he was bringing his motor home down to Illinois and was going to stay Shortly after, their neighbor, Dan Reynolds, who farmed right across Bryce Zacharias and help until harvest was over. He the road had just gotten done with offered to drive the semi all season harvest, so he too brought over while Tom ran the combine, which his combine and auger wagon to is what Nathan had always done help Tom finish up corn. Again, in years past. “It is just what you Hank noticed the extra combine do,” says Bryce. “Good friends help and tractor in the field and said to friends.” Connie, “Look Grandma, it’s love too!” At such a young age and in so The Hieronymus family was few words, Hank has been able to amazed by the outpouring of see the kindness and compassion love from these three, but to their shown by each person who came helpers, it was the least they could to help and bring light to such a do. However, the love and support difficult time. Connie and Tom the family recieved did not stop www.centralilag.com · Volume 8 Issue 1 22

With all this help, Hieronymus Farms was able to finish harvest earlier than they had originally thought possible. Tom and Connie have been blown away with the generosity of their family and their friends, who have become more like family after this year. They cannot begin to thank those enough who voluntarily stepped in to help and gave a new meaning to the family farm this fall.

Although everyone’s primary goal this harvest was to help get the job done, it went beyond that. Connie and Tom saw it as a way for Nathan to continue to touch people’s lives and their combined graciousness adds to the story of Nathan’s.

Nathan will be remembered for his charismatic and energetic personality. His sister, Leslie Hieronymus said it best in her eulogy for her brother: “I want to believe that our higher power knew that we would only get him for 42 short years, so Nathan had to have all of that energy packed into every day. He lived a 100-year life in 42 years.”

The Hieronymus family is grateful to have had the time with him that they did, even though it did not seem like nearly enough. Today, they are coping with the loss of their loved one the best they can but acknowledge that they would not be where they are today without the incredible people around them.

“It hasn’t been easy, but we take it one day at a time,” says Connie. “All the love from our friends and family is what has gotten us through.”

Tom and Hank wearing bib overalls like Nathan always used to.

Greg Franklin running the auger cart this fall.

Tom Hieronymus, Laurie Franklin, and Bryce Zacharias.

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