Known by some as “Farmin’ Armin,” Armin Apple plows one of his fields back in April 2004.
Tom Russo file photo
HANCOCK COUNTY — He was a Hancock County man through and through. Armin Byron Apple, known by many as “Farmin’ Armin,” touched numerous lives and paved the way for progress in the area. From spending time as a county official to riding on his tractor, Armin was an all-around community man who wanted to do good in his hometown, those who knew him say.
Armin, 78, McCordsville, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 24, at his home. While Armin was from McCordsville, he made his mark throughout the whole county one way or another as a local farmer and faithful community elected official. Armin graduated from New Palestine High School in 1963 and married Sherry Apple in 1968. The couple had just celebrated 55 years of marriage shortly before his passing.
Armin was a long time county servant, he was on the Hancock County Council from 1984 to 1992; ran as a delegate to for the state convention in 1996 and was also a Hancock County Commissioner from 1998-2002.
Angela Gelormini, Armin’s daughter noted her father took his job in the community as a council member and commissioner quite seriously.
Armin Apple
“My dad always said his job in being an elected official was in doing right for the county even if it was hard for him personally,” Angela said. “He took his job very seriously in trying to understand how people felt and in representing people. That was my dad’s legacy.”
His daughter shared a story about how her father always made the right decision based on the hard facts. She recalled the time the county considered allowing a race track and gambling establishment to be built right off of Mt. Comfort Road. Armin did research on the financial as well as traffic impact of the possible structure.
“As we all know, that business is not here because the leaders decided it was not best for the community, but it’s because dad had done all that research,” Angela said. “He spent so much time finding out what was right for Hancock County and, for me in my life, that’s how I now approach decisions.”
Those who loved and knew Armin say he lived a “fruitful life” marked by his dedication to family, farming and the community.
Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell said he first met Armin when Armin was a county commissioner and Fewell was in business, not even living in the county yet. Fewell noted he was impressed with Armin’s kindness and professionalism from the start.
“He was always a dedicated and respected leader,” Fewell said. “He also treated me very well and respectfully and that meant so much with him being a county leader. It always seemed to be that he always tried to do the right things for the county and to make things happen for Hancock County.”
Former Indiana State Senator Beverly Gard said Armin’s contributions to Hancock County as a county councilman and a county commissioner were, in a word, enormous.
“Few realize several of the really big projects that his forward thinking brought to fruition,” she said. “When I was on the city council, I worked with Armin to help bring paramedic service to Hancock County. Without his leadership, it would not have happened.”
Armin was also instrumental in bringing a countywide library service to the area. Gard noted it may have not happened for years without Armin coming up with a way to fund it without using property taxes.
“When I was in the Senate, he brought the idea of using the EDIT tax to me,” Gard said. “Bob Cherry (State Representative) and I got the proposal through the legislature, but it originated with Armin’s proposal.”
Gard noted that the Hancock County Public Library and the Fortville/McCordsville public libraries are the only libraries in the state to not be funded with property taxes.
“Armin’s legacy with continue to live on in Hancock County,” she said.
Armin earned an agriculture certificate from Purdue University, which paved the way for his lifelong career as a local county farmer.
Those who knew him well say his dedication to farming extended beyond his own fields, as he supported various farming organizations by serving on many boards. According to his obituary, Armin was part of the Rushville Production Credit, Farm Credit Services of Louisville, Agri Bank, and the Farm Credit Council. In addition to a farming career which lasted some 60 years, he also served on the Hancock County Council and as a Hancock County Commissioner and served the community for nearly 30 years.
In 2006, Armin earned state recognition when he was named a Distinguished Hoosier by Governor Mitch Daniels. Dec. 27, 2006 was named “Armin Apple Day” by the mayor of Greenfield at the time, Rodney Fleming, to show thanks for his service to Greenfield and Hancock County.
Armin was an active member of the Mohawk United Methodist Church and an avid supporter of 4-H, of which he was a 10-year member and continued to remain supportive of the 4-H program through his children and grandchildren, his family noted in his obituary.
One longtime friend, Brad Weber, noted that he and his wife were neighbors of the Apples for numerous decades and could not have asked for better neighbors.
“Armin’s shop was amazing. Every time I started a project and needed a tool, Armin not only had the tool but took the time to show me how to use it,” Weber wrote on Armin’s tribute wall. “I rode the combine with Armin every fall and cherished the conversations we had. Armin was a fantastic man and will be greatly missed.”
In addition to farming, his family noted Armin enjoyed woodworking, reading and spending quality time with his family. He was a big supporter of his grandchildren’s activities, always offering encouragement and praise. He greatly enjoyed his Tuesday lunch with “the guys.” One of his favorite things to do was drive the county roads, sipping an ice-cold McDonald’s Diet Coke, with his beloved wife, Sherry, by his side, his family said in his obituary.
Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, August 31, 2023, at Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory, 1484 W. US 40, Greenfield. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, September 1. Burial will follow the service at Park Cemetery, 621 S. State St., Greenfield.
