Wallace Heuser

Wallace Eugene Heuser, aged 90, died on Tuesday, February 5th in Lawrence, Michigan. Wallace was born in Hartford, Michigan on January 12, 1929 to Marjorie and Eugene Heuser. He graduated from Hartford high school in 1946. Wallace graduated cum laude from Michigan State University in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Pomology. He married Laura Lee Riegel on July 16, 1950. Wallace E. Heuser is survived by 5 children: Gary Heuser, Wanda (Dan) Heuser Gale, Stephen Heuser, Jeffrey Heuser and Roy (Rachel) Heuser;11 grandchildren: Laura Lee Gale, Michael Heuser, Jack Gale, Rachel (Nick) Heuser, Susan (Terry) Gale Phillips, Barbara Gale, Helena (Pat) Mengel, Christopher Heuser, Thomas Heuser, Samuel Heuser, Emily Heuser; 10 great-grandchildren, Vincent Krohne, Hayle Krohne, Elizabethe Hallan, Jessica Hallan, Summer Phillips, Grace Gale, Taylor Philips, Macy Boyer, Joshua Gale, Daniel Gale; and 2 great-grandchildren, Alison Cornell and Beverly Cornell. Wallace was preceded in death by his loving wife Laura, his parents, three brothers, Kenneth, Robert, Earl, sister Joan, and daughter-in-law Lori. Wallace was recognized as a worldwide authority on deciduous fruit varieties, rootstocks and orchard management systems. He was an internationally recognized horticulturist, nurseryman, innovator, and marketing specialist. Wallace was president of Hilltop Orchards & Nurseries producing over a million fruit trees a year. Wallace was a leader in the introduction of dwarfing fruit tree rootstocks into the US in the 1950's and was the founder and first president of the International Fruit Tree Association. He introduced many fruit industry standard varieties such as Smoothee Golden Delicious, Redchief Red Delicious, Paula Red, Buckeye Gala, and over 130 other varieties that revolutionized the tree fruit industry in the US and around the world. Wallace was a recipient of the Wilder Medal from the American Pomological Society for fruit variety improvement, the Michigan State University Distinguished Service Award for Agriculture, the Centennial Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan State Horticultural Society, president of the Michigan State Horticultural Society, recipient of the Outstanding Service Award from the International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association. director and past president of the National Peach Council, Fruit Man of the Year Award, Michigan Association of Pomsters, recipient of the first Hall of Fame Award, International Fruit Tree Association, recipient of The Michigan Farm Bureau Distinguished Service Award, and the Cherry Industry Person of the Year. A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday February 16, 2019, at 11:00 AM at the Hartford United Methodist Church. There will be visitation prior to the memorial service beginning at 10:00 AM with lunch following. The family asks that memorials be made to the Hartford United Methodist Church, 425 E Main, Hartford MI 49057 or to the International Fruit Tree Association at Ifruittree.org.