Frederick Isadore Heroman Jr.

Frederick Isadore Heroman, Jr. was born May 24, 1919, to Frederick Isadore Heroman, Sr. and Gladys Burk Heroman in Baton Rouge. He attended Miss Minna Martinez's Private School before attending and graduating from Catholic High School in 1936. He grew up working in his father's Seed and General Store on North Street and was an alter server at St. Joseph Cathedral. In the fall of 1940, he married his high school sweetheart, Elise Doiron. Fred and Elise opened a flower shop near the Baton Rouge General Hospital on Florida Boulevard. In 1943 he was drafted into the Army Air Corps in World War II. Fred served his country in the Pacific Theater and was honorably discharged in 1945. Upon his return, Fred and Elise opened Louisiana's first garden center and greenhouses "out in the country" on Greenwell Springs Road where they lived and raised their family. Elise died in August of 1965, leaving Fred a widower with six children. In October of 1969 Fred married Bunny Watson Wilks, a widow and mother of three. They had a daughter together in 1972; an "ours" to join the "yours" and "mine." In 1976 Fred moved his greenhouse business to Dutchtown, where he had twelve acres under glass and served the entire southeast United States. He also had business ventures in Puerto Rico and Guatemala. In addition to his business, Fred was very active in Catholic and philanthropic organizations including East Baton Rouge Lions Club, St. Joseph Cathedral, and Catholic High School. Fred chaired the Bi-Centennial Celebration of St. Joseph Cathedral in 1992. Funds raised purchased the organ loft. His grandfather, Frederick William Heroman chaired the Cathedral's Centennial Celebration in 1892 and raised funds to purchase the steeple. Fred was organizing officer and president of the East Baton Rouge Lions Club in 1952. In 2013, at age 93, Fred received a "Most Creative Thinker" award from the Lions club he helped create. Fred loved to cook. He enjoyed entertaining and opened his home often for guests to try his latest culinary creations. Fred chaired Baton Rouge's first Culinary Classic in 1985 with proceeds going to the National Hemophilia Foundation. In 1988 Fred was honored as "Lay Chef of the Year" and in 1998 Fred received a "Culinary Excellence" award from the American Culinary Federation of Greater Baton Rouge. Fred enjoyed discussing, creating, and debating recipes until he couldn't. Fred is survived by his wife, Bunny Watson Wilks Heroman. He is survived by the last of the four Heroman brothers, William J. Heroman. He is also survived by his sons, Fred "Pudgy" Heroman and wife Susie Comeaux, Jack Heroman and wife Nora Nell Grigsby, Don Heroman and wife Ann Smith of Atlanta, GA , Pat Heroman and wife Deborah Lohmeyer of Pensacola, FL. His daughters, Kathy Heroman and Anne Frederick Heroman Jeanmard and husband Mark Jeanmard. His step-children, Bill Wilks and wife Cindy Sumrall, Bob Wilks and wife Sherrie McCroskey and Betsy Wilks. Eighteen Grandchildren: Elise Heroman Greene and husband Michael of Madisonville, LA, Fred Prosser Heroman and wife Jana of Greenville, SC, Katie Heroman Houston and husband Jason of Greenville, SC, Matthew Heroman of New Orleans, LA, Taylor Heroman and wife Amanda, Rei Heroman, Kelley Phillips Jones and husband Chris, Teal Phillips Gray and husband Stuart, Rawlston Phillips and wife Amanda, Dr. Wes Heroman and wife Krista of Charlotte, NC, Kyle Heroman of New York City, Robert Heroman of Boston, MA, Cerys Heroman of Pensacola, FL, Lainey Wilks, Ken Wilks, Ashley Wilks Eberle and husband Mikey of New Orleans, LA, Joey Wilks and Mary Collier Wilks of Charlottesville, VA. He also is survived by twenty three great-grandchildren: Curran, Katie, Annelise and Julianna Greene, Prosser and Mary Louise Heroman, Malain and Jackie Houston, Chuck and Ariel Heroman, Kean, Cazes, Finley and Virginia Jones, Robert and Edward Gray, Camille and Stella Phillips, Nate Wilks, Rebekah and Lydian Wilks. Fred was proceeded in death by parents Fred and Gladys Heroman, his brothers Harry B. Heroman and Alfred S. Heroman, his first wife, Elise Doirion Heroman, son, Bobby Heroman, and daughter-in-law, Mary Prosser Heroman. It is with many thanks and unending gratitude that the family acknowledges the friends and family, the lovely staff of Hospice in His Care, dear friends Ron and Mitzi Sonnier, and beloved neighbors and great nephew, Mike and Erin Doiron for the love and care provided to both Fred and Bunny these last two years. We are ever grateful for our village. Visiting will be on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home (825 Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802) from 5:00 to 8:00pm. Visiting will continue on Monday, February 23, 2015 in the place Fred's spiritual life began, St. Joseph's Cathedral (412 North St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802) from 8:30 until funeral mass at 10:00am celebrated by long-time family friend and priest, Father Frank Uter. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. The family would like to express much appreciation to the chefs of The American Culinary Federation of Greater Baton Rouge for providing divine sustenance to the family gathering following the services. Fred would approve. Those wishing to make donations in Fred's memory may donate to St. Joseph Cathedral, 412 North St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 or Catholic High School, 855 Hearthstone, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Words of comfort to the family at www.rabenhorst.com.