HUNTHAUSEN, Herman Joseph

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Sunday, March 2, 2003 Herman Joseph Hunthausen passed away Feb. 21, 2003. Herman was born in Tipton, Mo. on March 10, 1908. As a young boy, he made money by training his dog, Ponto to catch skunks under homes. After each catch, he would have to rub a tomato in Ponto's nose to retrieve his smelling capability. He moved to Chicago at 18 and received a degree from DePaul University in Chicago where he was known for his dancing talents at the Avalon Theater. There he won many a first place prize. He once met John Dillinger and dated a driver for Al Capone. He eventually, safely, retired from the Illinois Central Railroad. He was a WWII veteran having served in Alaska during the Aleutian Islands conflict. Amongst his duties were sitting on a four legged chair on top of rail cars as a guard, planting explosives to create avalanches ahead of trains, and training German Shepherd dogs to climb ladders. He was the uncle of Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, Seattle, Wa., and is survived by his son, Roger in Mesa, Az. and his daughter, Nancy Rada in Gilbert, Az. He lived a full and exciting life and we can only assume that heaven will "have it hands full". Meldrum Mortuary handled the arrangements. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.