Heinz Brothers garden center owner remembers his father

Jay Schrock, owner of Heinz Brothers Greenhouse, Garden Center in  Saint Charles, Ill., sent a message to people in the industry announcing his father's death. Joel Schrock, who purchased the garden center and greenhouse business in 1979, passed away Sept. 6. Read Jay's message below and follow the links for more information. The GIE Media Horticulture group sends its condolences to family and friends of Joel.

"It is with a heavy heart I wanted to inform you that my father, Joel F. Schrock, passed away peacefully September 6, 2014, at the age of 76, after a long-fought battle with Parkinson ’s disease with Lewy Body Dementia. He will miss the industry that provided him so much joy throughout his life.

"He grew up on a family farm is southwestern Minnesota, planting his roots into agriculture. He then went to the University of Minnesota, graduating with a degree in Horticulture. During that time, he met his wife, JoAn. They later moved to Illinois, where he worked for Ball Seed for 15 years, developing contacts all over the world. This career gave him the inspiration to own his own greenhouse. That’s when he bought Heinz Brothers Greenhouses, where he started a transplant seedling business (Super Seedling) and shipped starting plants throughout the United States.

"During this time, he connected with many more people within the industry, selling to growers, actively involved with industry associations like SAF, OFA, and the former BPI, and helping people new to the industry, for example, employing interns from DuPage Horticulture School. In 1990, with the popularity of plugs in the industry, my father changed directions and put his efforts toward retailing plants at the current location, which he purchased in 1985. His focus was now on retailing, and he devoted his efforts to a retail greenhouse, where he enjoyed engaging the local community while supplying beauty in the form of flowers and meeting and establishing many more friendships through customers, employees, suppliers, and other retailers. In later years, JoAn retired from teaching and joined him at the greenhouse. I joined him in late 1995 to further develop the business into the garden center it is today.

"I am grateful that I got to work and learn with my father for as many years as I did, and I am thankful for the opportunities my dad and mom provided for me. He will be missed by many."

Read his obituary here: www.malonefh.com/obits/obituary.php?id=495949

Read more about the business here: www.heinzbrothers.com/about-us.html