AgChem & Specialty Products
Membership News

Bill Hopkins Passed Away

Reprinted from IndyStar June 12, 2010

Bill Hopkins, who planted traffic-stopping floral displays in his garden at 71st Street and Johnson Road, has died.

People who drove in his Northeastside neighborhood periodically contacted me and other writers for The Star about Hopkins' gardens and the honor system for buying $5 fresh-cut bouquets.

"He took up floral landscaping as a hobby when he retired from Lilly," said his daughter, Kimberley Hopkins Rusk. "He was an agriculturalist for then-named Elanco, so he had a plethora of knowledge on plants, growth, weeds and insect control."

It wasn't the knowledge so much as Hopkins' love of flowers that prompted him to plant thousands of annuals, perennials and other plants each summer from 1983 to 1999, when he sold the one-acre Indianapolis plot.

He moved to Pebble Brook Golf Course in 2006 and turned the barren Noblesville landscape into "something magnificent, although on a much smaller scale," Rusk said. "My father instilled in me his love of annuals, perennials (and) ornamentals, so much so, (that) I started and ran my own floral scape company from 1990 to 2000. I learned so much from my father those years and to this day, still have that desire.

"We both were looking forward to this spring and summer, when we could get out in his garden and cultivate something beautiful for the neighbors to enjoy."

Her 80-year-old father's health took a turn May 21, she said, and he died June 1.

"My father didn't want a traditional funeral, but something to share with others and to celebrate his life and love of living color."

At 4 p.m. June 19, the family will hold a public celebration of Hopkins' life in the garden at his home, 355 Sand Brook Drive, Noblesville.

"He didn't think he had done much in this world we live in, but in my heart of hearts, I know that many admired what he did," Rusk said.

Gus Watanabe Dies

Reprinted from IndyStar June 13, 2009

Prominent Indianapolis scientist August "Gus" Watanabe was found dead Tuesday outside a cabin in Brown County.
Brown County Coroner Earl Piper determined that Dr. Watanabe died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Michael Adams, chief deputy at the Brown County Sheriff's Department.
Watanabe, 67, was the former president of Indianapolis-based Lilly Research Laboratories and current chairman of BioCrossroads, the region’s bio-tech initiative.

Deputies were dispatched to a vacation cabin in the hills east of Nashville at 4:17 p.m. on Tuesday, Adams said. A .38-caliber handgun and a three-page note were found at the scene, Adams said. Friends discovered the body and called police.

A police report said Watanabe, a Carmel resident, had been depressed following the death last month of his daughter Nan Reiko Watanabe Lewis. She died at age 44 while recovering from elective surgery.

Watanabe was one of the five highest-paid20officers of Indianapolis pharmaceutical maker Eli Lilly and Co. when he retired in 2003. He had been chairman of the department of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, which he left in 1990 to join Lilly. By 2003, he was overseeing Lilly's global drug development efforts as executive vice president of science and technology.

His arrival at BioCrossroads five years ago was a celebrated move, as it helped to raise the profile of a group that seeks economic development opportunities in Central Indiana. Mark Miles, president and CEO of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, told board members of Watanabe's death in an e-mail. "This has taken us all by complete surprise. Please keep (Watanabe's wife) Peg and the Watanabe family in your hearts and prayers."

Watanabe was retired, but he remained active on the boards of several companies, including QuatRx and Endocyte. About three years ago, he was part of a group that founded Marcadia Biotech, a company that develops therapeutic products meant to improve the daily lives of people with diabetes and obesity.

Fritz French, CEO of Marcadia Biotech, said he spoke to Watanabe just about every day. "He was a great man and his leadership and guidance will be terribly missed by all of us at Marcadia, where he was a founder and chairman of the board, as well as by the thousands of others that he has touched in his lifetime," French said.

Stan Grassel Dies After Struck By Lightning

Reported by Tom Fleming Mar. 15, 2009

Stan Grassel, 63, was struck by lightning while walking on Mustang Island Beach in Port Arkansas. His death occurred as storms were moving through the Gulf Coast area on Sunday afternoon.

Additional information may be found at www.caller.com/news/2009/mar/15/lightning-kills-man-port/

Obituary in Lubbock-Avalanche Journal

Stan Grassel, 63, of Ransom Canyon died Sunday March 15, 2009 on a beach in Port Aransas, Texas, where he was vacationing with his family. The cause of death was lightning. A remembrance service will be held at the Ranch House in Ransom Canyon, Texas on Monday March 23, 2009. The service will start at 2 p.m., and doors open at 1:30.

Born July 20, 1945 in Visalia, Calif., he was the son of George and Doretta Grassel. He graduated from Mt. Whitney High School in 1963. He studied agricultural sciences at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif. and Fresno State University in Fresno, Calif., graduating in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves for eight years.

Stan met the one-and-only love of his life, Marty (Rueckwald) Carless of Pittsburgh, Pa. in Visalia. They were married on February 10, 1972. He was an agrichemical sales representative with Elanco Products, who relocated the couple and their two children to Lubbock. Because of his love for his work, he continued part-time employment with Cerexagri after his retirement from Dow Agrosciences, formerly Elanco.

Stan and Marty moved to Ransom Canyon in 1983. He immediately embraced the community and enthusiastically participated in countless events and projects and was honored to serve on the Property Owners' Association Board of Directors.

Stan's greatest source of pride was his family. His devotion to family, friends, and neighbors was exemplified by both his passion for life and joy in sharing with others. He had a grand sense of humor and reached out with a smile, joke, or handshake to everyone he met. He could be counted on to assist anyone in need with his bottomless friendly spirit and generosity of heart. His talents were numerous and his areas of interest were diverse. When asked, "What is your favorite thing to do?" his reply was, "Something I've not done before." He was a man of honor and integrity whose presence filled a room and whose manner filled a heart.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Marty of Ransom Canyon; children, Chris Grassel and wife Tisha of Earth, and Joan Ryan of Old Lyme, Conn.; beloved grandchildren, Joshua, Sarah, and Matthew of Earth, and Eli of Old Lyme; brothers, David Grassel of Tulare, Calif., Roger Grassel of Spokane, Wash., and Michael Grassel of Visalia; sister, Mary Bernadette Earl of Kerrville; his dear nieces and nephews; and his many, many wonderful friends and neighbors.

Stan donated his body to medical science. This was his wish as a compassionate gift towards the future of mankind and in honor of the blessing of life.

In honor of Stan's love for his community, memorial donation suggestions include the Ransom Canyon Chapel (c/o Ron Bornick at 87 S Lakeshore Dr, Ransom Canyon, TX, 79366), the Ransom Canyon Home Owners' Association (PO Box A, Ransom Canyon, TX, 79366), or charity of choice. Donations to the Home Owners' Association may be designated for specific projects such as children's recreation, landscaping, the Ranch House.