OCR Text |
Show A-10 The Park Record Wed/Thurs/Fri, July 4-6, 2018 Obituary I have the power to create Eric Haaijer November 4, 1961 – June 22, 2018 It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the passing of Eric Haaijer, 56, of Park City, on June 22, 2018 at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. Eric was born in Pittsburgh to Geerhard and Willemina Haaijer. He graduated from Franklin Regional High School, Murraysville, Pennsylvania in 1979, then from Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1983, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi. Eric was the CEO of Isolatek International in Stanhope, New Jersey, at the time of his death. Eric was larger than life – he lived big, loved big, and was incredibly smart, witty and generous. Life with Eric was extraordinary, and he will be missed beyond measure. Eric will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 22 years, Kristen Fox Haaijer; mother Willemina Haaijer of State College, Pennsylvania; four children Hannah, Emily, Caroline and Eric Haaijer William; sisters Karen Haaijer Meister (Randy) of Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, Ingrid Haaijer (John McMahon) of Santa Barbara, California, and Vera Haaijer (Ronnie Abercrombie) of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by nieces and nephew Kristin, Ellen, Jerienne, and Eric, along with extended family in the Netherlands. Eric was predeceased by his daugh- ter, Haley Ann Haaijer, and his father, Geerhard Haaijer. Celebrations of Eric’s life will be held in Park City on July 7 2018, 11 a.m., at Mountain Life Church, and in Boalsburg, Pennsylvnia, on July 21, 2018, 1 p.m. at St. John’s United Church of Christ, with receptions to follow each. In memory of Eric, the family requests contributions to the Eric Haaijer Memorial Fund at the Park City Community Foundation. The fund will make grants to nonprofit organizations beloved by Eric and his family, in Utah, Pennsylvania and across the U.S. To give, visit http://parkcitycf.org/haaijer/ Donations can also be sent to Park City Community Foundation, directed to the Eric Haaijer Memorial Fund (P.O. Box 681499 Park City, Utah 84068). Eric was also an organ donor - please consider registering for Organ Donation at OrganDonor.gov. Ogden tree biggest in state Walnut has seen about 104 years LEIA LARSEN Standard Examiner You inspire all of us at Rocky Mountain Power to provide the most reliable and sustainable energy possible. Every solution we create is to power you, your family, neighborhood and community. Learn how our programs can help you at PoweringGreatness.com. © 2018 Rocky Moutain Power OGDEN (AP) – A little more than 100 years ago, the owners of a new white brick bungalow with a welcoming porch planted an English walnut tree in their backyard. The home and the neighborhood are gone, but the tree is still growing. State officials confirmed recently that it holds the record for the largest English walnut in Utah. Turns out, it’s remarkably old, too. Utah State University Professor Mike Kuhns, who first noticed the tree earlier this year, took a corer to it last week, but the tree is so large he was only able to collect rings back to 1969. “My increment corer only went in 16 inches and we would need a core more than twice that long to get to its center,” he said. Michael Kuhns, Wildland Resources Department Head at Utah State University, found the tree in downtown Ogden that turned out to be the largest English walnut in the state. The tree is located off Park Boulevard and is currently owned by Ogden City. Assuming the tree kept growing at the same rate over the years, Kuhns calculates the tree is 104 years old. “Very few trees in urban areas make it to 100 years old, and most only live for 15 to 20 years,” he said. “It is not only a tremendous biological and environmental resource because it is large, but it is likely a cultural and historic resource because of its age.” When the walnut tree was first planted, World War I had just be- gun. The U.S. Forest Service was less than a decade old. In the tree’s neighborhood, near the banks of the Ogden River, Becker Brewing and Malting Co. was booming — it was a few years before Prohibition. Just to the south, the American Can building was brand new. “When you’ve got a tree that’s been around for a long time, stories tend to collect with it,” said Jeran Farley, urban and community forestry coordinator for the Utah Department of Natural Resources. “We as people tend to like things that have history and can tell a story.” Those old trees have value. Big trees like the English walnut have value, too. Farley also manages the Big Tree and Heritage Tree registries for the state of Utah. He confirmed the walnut tree in downPlease see Ogden, A-12 We are one family, and we mourn the senseless tragedy at the Capital Gazette together. Our hearts grieve the loss of our fellow newspaper staffers. We wish comfort and peace for their families, friends, co-workers and all who have been touched by this heartbreak – and healing to those who are recovering. |