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Obituaries
Here are some folks who have been mighty important to the Adobe Lodge over the years.
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Ed Temme, Lansdale, PA
It is always a sad time when we receive word that one of our hunters has passed away. Ed Temme hunted with us for the first time last season. We had hoped to see him here many more times, but it was just not to be. In Ed's fifty-eight years of life, we are glad he came hunting with us at least once. For sure, he was the kind of hunter that fits well into our camp. We liked him, and he seemed to like us.
On that particular hunt date when Ed was here, our report of the event called it an almost perfect hunt. So it was fitting that if Ed could be here only one time, he picked the perfect date to hunt with us, "Hunt C", Oct. 28- Nov. 2, 2008. Ed took the beautiful ten-pointer shown here. And he also collected a couple of does, to boot.
The entire Adobe Lodge crew offers our condolences to Ed's family. Ed's wife and daughters can be contacted at 551 Winding Rd, Lansdale, PA 19446.
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| Ed Temme, Lansdale, PA 1951-2009 |
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| Reed Steinmetz, Reamstown, PA |
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ADIOS, OLD PAL
Reed Steinmetz, Reamstown, PA
1934-2008
Recently we received word that Reed Steinmetz passed away on August 12, 2008. Truly, it is a sad time for the hunting community. Reed was a legend.
Reed first hunted with us way back in 1990, and he continued to do so every year until 2005. After that, sadly, his health began to fail and he was no longer able to come see us. Several times over the years, Reed would book two hunts with us back-to-back in the same season. It was always a treat to have him in camp. His accomplishments in the sport of hunting were matched by few individuals: he had collected every North American animal except a jaguar. His trophy room back home in Reamstown is spectacular, to say the least. One of our memorable treats was his personal tour of the place a few years ago. It was akin to being in a great museum.
No telling how many Adobe Lodge hunters over the years came to know and be impressed by Reed. During the quiet times around the campfire, if a hunting subject was being discussed, Reed could speak with great authority about hunting any kind of American trophy animal. He had no interest in hunting Africa. He said there was plenty of hunting in North America to suit him. You couldn't get him to brag about any of his exploits, but his accounts of his hunting trips over the years proved he'd had more than his share of hunting adventures. He was a genuine authority on the sport. If you wanted a good elk, or grizzly, or mule deer, Reed could tell you just where to go to meet your goals. He knew, and had hunted with, outfitters almost everywhere.
Reed's greatest contribution to the sport of hunting involved his efforts in founding the Eastern Chapter of the Foundation of North American Wild Sheep (FNAWS). Reed was president during the first formative years of the group, and their convention was always held in February or March at or near Lancaster, PA. Some years, when the weather kept the attendance down, Reed bought no-telling-how-many donated hunts just to keep the auction going. By then, of course, Reed had become quite wealthy from his years in business. But in recalling his days as a young, struggling, financially-strapped businessman, he would always budget what he could scrape together for hunting, knowing that he wouldn't be young forever. He always encouraged younger hunters to do the same. Some of his early hunts were quite rugged and would surely have been impossible as he got older.
From the first year of the Eastern FNAWS, Adobe Lodge would always donate a whitetail hunt to their annual auction. It was through that donation that we came to know many, many hunters from the Northeast. Ralph Gitz and Howard Seigfreid are good examples. One year at the FNAWS East auction, while Howard took a time-out to visit the men's room, Ralph bought our donated hunt and charged it to the absent Howard. From that single event, we can trace 100+ bookings over the following years. Reed understood that fact. The auctions were always set up to promote the outfitter's business. He was an outfitter's biggest friend and promoter, and we remain flattered and honored that someone of Reed's stature and reputation was so generous in recommending our hunts.
So REST IN PEACE, Reed Steinmetz. You've earned it. We are blessed to have known you. To send a condolence to the family, visit www.stradlingfuneralhome.com
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| Pon Lawdermilk 1946-2006 |
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ADIOS, OLD PAL
Pon Lawdermilk died at home early on December 4, 2006. He was 59 years old.
Pon had suffered a debilitating stroke in early April, 2005. Despite months of therapy and work, Pon never regained his ability to walk or talk. His sainted wife, Joyce, was by his side through the whole ordeal, and she remains our hero for the care she provided our good friend and cook.
We are indebted to Tillman Lawdermilk, Pon's son, for faithfully bringing Pon to the camp for special events like our Guide Meeting fish fry in August. Tillman works several of our hunts each year, and we are glad to see the name "Lawdermilk" still on the roster.
Pon started cooking for the Adobe Lodge way back in 1992. He would save up his vacation from Conoco and would cook the first six-eight hunts each year. How Pon was able to work so many hunts back-to-back, we'll never know. Being a hunting camp cook is a demanding job: you have to get up early morning after morning; make three good meals each day (not to mention desserts and snacks); have them ready on time; clean up the kitchen numerous times per day; put up with cranky guides and hunters - (plus the outfitter); be prepared for the unexpected crisis (water heater goes out; the screen door falls off the hinges; electrical outages just as you are in the middle of a meal; etc, etc,etc).
Through it all, year after year, there was no single individual that had more to do with the success of the Adobe Lodge than Pon Lawdermilk. Hunters loved his cooking and they loved him. To say he was accommodating would be an understatement. At the kickoff meeting which starts each hunt, Pon would always tell the hunters that if they needed anything - ANYTHING - from town, just let him know. He never failed to deliver either. Pon kept the road hot in that red diesel pickup of his.
Pon could do most anything and fix most everything. No one had a better work-ethic - ever. We used to say, and not in jest, that it would take three good men to replace him. And if the communists ever invaded, you would want Pon Lawdermilk in your foxhole.
He always did his share, and more. At the conclusion of a hunt, Pon would take it upon himself to strip all the bed and get the washing done just so the cleaning crew could get a jump-start on their job. Going above and beyond was just standard-operating procedure for Pon.
In the hunting camp, Pon made numerous good friends from all across this great nation, and he stayed in touch with more than we'll ever know. Following his stroke, several hunters drove hundreds of miles just to see him and offer their good wishes. If Pon liked you, you were his friend for life.
So Adios, old Pard. You are in a better place now, and rest easy. We'll all miss you.
If anyone who knew Pon would like to send a card to his family, their address is:
Box 713
Mertzon, TX 96941
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