Wallace Eugene Heuser

Wallace Eugene Heuser, aged 90, died on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, in Lawrence. Wallace was born in Hartford on Jan. 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 five 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 and Emily Heuser; 10 great-grandchildren: Vincent Krohne, Hayle Krohne, Elizabethe Hallan, Jessica Hallan, Summer Phillips, Grace Gale, Taylor Philips, Macy Boyer, Joshua Gale and Daniel Gale; and two great-grandchildren, Alison Cornell and Beverly Cornell.

Wallace was preceded in death by his loving wife, Laura; his parents; three brothers: Kenneth, Robert and 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 U.S. 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