Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on October 24, 1985.
Friends harvest ailing farmer’s crop
by Charles Knebl
Staff Writer
PLEASANT TWP. 一 Kouts-area farmer Joe Jarnecke had open-heart surgery Saturday to replace a valve.
Wednesday, his friends got together and harvested Jarnecke’s 55 acres of soybeans from fields just off County Road 700S.
“There’s none of us that is indestructible,” said Jarnecke, 59, who began working the 150-acre farm at 753 S. CR 300 E with his father in 1936.
Neighbors Tom Heiniger, Vic Martin, Keith King and Craig Birky spent most of harvesting Jarnecke’s beans. And farmers Ed Freyenberger, Ed Whitmore and Harley Birky (Craig’s father) loaded beans into storage bins and helped out around the farm.
“Definitely it (their help) takes some pressure off. I always figured you never had your crop until you had it in the bin,” said Jarnecke.
“I’m really thankful they can take the time to help me.”
The Kouts-area farmers were helping Jarnecke because he needed help and his friends were there to give it, said Heiniger, who farms about 232 acres of his own. He’s been handling chores for both farms for about a week.
“It’s just a matter of helping a fella that needs help. It’s tough times (for farmers) and we’re doing the best we can,”said Heiniger.
Heiniger’s father, Walter, also was helping in the fields Wednesday; he came from Tempe, Ariz. two weeks ago to visit.
“We thought we’d get this (group) together and get this crop out and it’d give Joe a little lift,” said Walter, who is Jarnecke’s brother-in-law. Walter’s wife, Mary, is Jarnecke’s sister.
Jarnecke said it was important to get his beans “in as soon as possible because you never know the variables.” a heavy rain or an early snow could damage the beans.
Another unknown for Jarnecke was the condition of his heart.
“What started out as the flu turned out being the heart,” he said.
On Oct. 10 Jarnecke suffered a pain in his chest that “felt like somebody grabbed me.” and although fluids had built up in his lungs that kept him coughing most of the night, Jarnecke thought the ailments were flu symptoms.
But by Oct. 13 he was having trouble breathing and went to a local medical clinic. A couple days later he went to Porter Memorial Hospital’s emergency room because his lungs were filled with fluids.
Doctors discovered his heart was not functioning properly.
“They thought I probably had a bad valve,” he said.
The operation was performed at St. Catherine’s Hospital in East Chicago. Surgeons inserted a port valve to replace Jarnecke’s dysfunctioning valve.
Jarnecke will be recovering for about five weeks. And he’ll be doing it with the knowledge that his neighbors care about him.
“I appreciate their help,” he said.
Joe Jarnecke’s soybean field was harvested by (from left) Vic Martin, Tom Heinger, Keith King and Craig Birky. Lined up side-by-side the combines cover 72 feet of field. One farmer said the machines’ combined worth is about $180,000.
(V-M: Kathy Woodward)
