November 22, 2017 at 3:01 p.m.
Leader brought joy to Jay Co. 4-H
Leader brought joy to Jay Co. 4-H
One word keeps coming up: “Joy.”
Talk to anyone about Erica Widmer, and that’s what you’ll hear.
“She just brought joy,” says Purdue Extension educator Cheri Brown. “She had a smile that just radiated.”
“She brought joy everywhere,” says Jay County 4-H Council president Dennis Chenoweth. “She was such a happy person.”
Widmer joined the Jay County Extension Office staff in October 2016 as 4-H educator.
On July 29, she lost her life in a traffic accident at U.S. 27 and Witte Road in Allen County.
“She had just turned 39,” says Brown.
Widmer had been working late that evening at the office in Portland. She and ag educator Larry Temple, Chenoweth and Nancy Kunk of the 4-H council were dealing with the mountain of paperwork that always accompanies the 4-H livestock auction at the Jay County Fair.
When they called it a night, Erica headed north in her 2011 Volkswagen. She and her husband Jim had moved from Muncie to Fort Wayne in May when he accepted a new teaching position.
Witnesses said that as her car reached the intersection, Widmer fell over. The car went off the roadway, hit an incline and rolled over before coming to a stop.
Talk to anyone about Erica Widmer, and that’s what you’ll hear.
“She just brought joy,” says Purdue Extension educator Cheri Brown. “She had a smile that just radiated.”
“She brought joy everywhere,” says Jay County 4-H Council president Dennis Chenoweth. “She was such a happy person.”
Widmer joined the Jay County Extension Office staff in October 2016 as 4-H educator.
On July 29, she lost her life in a traffic accident at U.S. 27 and Witte Road in Allen County.
“She had just turned 39,” says Brown.
Widmer had been working late that evening at the office in Portland. She and ag educator Larry Temple, Chenoweth and Nancy Kunk of the 4-H council were dealing with the mountain of paperwork that always accompanies the 4-H livestock auction at the Jay County Fair.
When they called it a night, Erica headed north in her 2011 Volkswagen. She and her husband Jim had moved from Muncie to Fort Wayne in May when he accepted a new teaching position.
Witnesses said that as her car reached the intersection, Widmer fell over. The car went off the roadway, hit an incline and rolled over before coming to a stop.
An autopsy later determined that a medical event had occurred that led to the accident which claimed her life.
“We were among the last to see her,” recalls Chenoweth. “It just sucked the wind out of you.”
He compares it to the type of shock that local families are dealing with in the wake of this month’s tornado.
Word of the accident was slow getting back to Jay County.
Brown was on vacation with her family and knew nothing about it until she heard from office receptionist Della Rockwell.
“I was on Facebook,” recalls Rockwell, “and Jimmy (Widmer) had put up, ‘Pray for my wife.’”
Startled by those words, Rockwell used Facebook to contact the family and find out what had happened.
Then she had to tell her boss.
Devastated by the news, Rockwell tried to reach the vacationing Brown but was having little luck.
“We were among the last to see her,” recalls Chenoweth. “It just sucked the wind out of you.”
He compares it to the type of shock that local families are dealing with in the wake of this month’s tornado.
Word of the accident was slow getting back to Jay County.
Brown was on vacation with her family and knew nothing about it until she heard from office receptionist Della Rockwell.
“I was on Facebook,” recalls Rockwell, “and Jimmy (Widmer) had put up, ‘Pray for my wife.’”
Startled by those words, Rockwell used Facebook to contact the family and find out what had happened.
Then she had to tell her boss.
Devastated by the news, Rockwell tried to reach the vacationing Brown but was having little luck.
“Then,” says Brown, “I get a text, all capitals, from Della saying, ‘CALL ME PLEASE.’”
The loss is still being felt.
“She was a jewel,” says Brown. “What a void it’s left in our world. … There will always be a piece of her with me.”
“It’s hard,” says Rockwell. “It will never go away.”
With the fair behind them, office staff and 4-H volunteers had some time to adjust to the news.
“It gave us space to grieve,” says Brown.
“As a council, we got together and we have tried to build on what she had done,” says Chenoweth. “The office staff has been just super.”
As 4-H educator, Widmer, a graduate of Ball State University with a master’s degree from Purdue University, was primarily focused on working with junior leaders, adult volunteers and the 4-H council.
“The 4-H educator is the volunteer coordinator,” explains Brown.
Now the process of filling the void left by Widmer’s death is underway.
Purdue waited about a month before posting the job.
“We are taking applications and there are some people in the second phase of the process,” says Brown.
The process begins at Purdue, where applicants are screened and then reviewed by the district director and the 4-H program head. Then, two or three finalists will be brought to Jay County to be interviewed and to meet with the county extension board. The final decision will be made by Purdue, based upon local input the university receives.
“The process is moving along,” says Brown. “We’re not privy to a lot of information. … It’s ultimately Purdue’s decision. But the board’s input is very important.”
Chenoweth is pleased with the process so far.
“Purdue’s making a valiant effort to fill this position as fast as they can,” he says. But the process isn’t being rushed. “They want to emulate her.”
The loss is still being felt.
“She was a jewel,” says Brown. “What a void it’s left in our world. … There will always be a piece of her with me.”
“It’s hard,” says Rockwell. “It will never go away.”
With the fair behind them, office staff and 4-H volunteers had some time to adjust to the news.
“It gave us space to grieve,” says Brown.
“As a council, we got together and we have tried to build on what she had done,” says Chenoweth. “The office staff has been just super.”
As 4-H educator, Widmer, a graduate of Ball State University with a master’s degree from Purdue University, was primarily focused on working with junior leaders, adult volunteers and the 4-H council.
“The 4-H educator is the volunteer coordinator,” explains Brown.
Now the process of filling the void left by Widmer’s death is underway.
Purdue waited about a month before posting the job.
“We are taking applications and there are some people in the second phase of the process,” says Brown.
The process begins at Purdue, where applicants are screened and then reviewed by the district director and the 4-H program head. Then, two or three finalists will be brought to Jay County to be interviewed and to meet with the county extension board. The final decision will be made by Purdue, based upon local input the university receives.
“The process is moving along,” says Brown. “We’re not privy to a lot of information. … It’s ultimately Purdue’s decision. But the board’s input is very important.”
Chenoweth is pleased with the process so far.
“Purdue’s making a valiant effort to fill this position as fast as they can,” he says. But the process isn’t being rushed. “They want to emulate her.”
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD