The Daily Journal from Franklin, Indiana • Page 5

JOURNAL, JOHNSON COUNTY, IND. DAILY JOURNAL TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1999 A5 'Catch-22' author Heller dies at 76 He was born BY FRANK ELTMAN Nov. 6, 1921, in ASSOCIATED PRESS EAST HAMPTON, N.Y. Joseph Heller, whose darkly comic World War II novel "Catch22" anticipated the surreal horror of Vietnam and added a popular expression 1 to the American lexicon, has died at 76. Heller died Sunday night of a heart attack at his home on Long Island, his wife, Valerie, said Monday.

God, how terrible," said author and friend Vonnegut, who last spoke to Heller a week ago. "This is a calamity for American letters." Heller wrote six books, but none of them resonated as widely or as powerfully as "Catch-22," a pitchblack tale that read like a devious collaboration of Twain and Kafka. It was published in 1961. "Catch-22," which Heller based on his experience as an Army Air Corps bombardier who flew 60 combat missions over Italy, is about trying to stay alive amid the insanity of war. The characters included the elusive Major Major, who permitted visitors to his office only when he wasn't there, and the enterprising 'Milo Minderbinder, inventor of the inedible chocola cotton.

The book became a cult favorite before it was recognized as an American classic. It eventually sold more than 10 million copies the United States alone, and its antigovernment, antimilitary sentiments struck a chord during the Vietnam era. "When 'Catch-22' came out, people were saying, 'Well, World War II wasn't like this," friend and fellow author E.L. Doctorow said Monday. "But when we got tangled up in Vietnam, it became a sort of text for the consciousness of that time.

They say fiction 'can't change anything, but they can certainly organize a generation's consciousness." The novel's protagonist, Capt. John. Yossarian, is a bombardier who tries to get himself declared crazy so he won't have to fly more missions. But he is foiled by regulations, which Doc Daneeka explains: "Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn't really crazy." The bind was called Catch-22. The phrase quickly entered the lexicon.

The New Shorter Oxford Dictionary (1993) defines Catch-22 as "a condition or consequence that precludes success, a dilemma where the victim cannot win." "Everyone in my book accuses everyone else of being crazy," Heller once said. "Frankly, I think the whole society is nuts and the question is: What does: a sane man do in an insane society?" The novel was made into a movie starring Alan Arkin and directed by Mike Nichols in 1970; Heller himself did a stage adaptation in 1973 and also published a sequel, "Closing Time," in 1994. Heller was ranked among the great writers of the World War II generation, a group that included Vonnegut, James Jones, Irwin Shaw and Norman Mailer. "He said to me one time that if it weren't for World War II, he'd be in the dry cleaning business," Vonnegut recalled. Mailer said in a statement 'Monday: "He was a wonderful writer.

And there aren't many left." Born in Brooklyn's Coney Island on May 1, 1923, Heller attended public schools and worked as a blacksmith's helper before enlisting at 19. After the war he got a degree in English literature from 'New York University and a master's from Columbia. He studied at Oxford University on a Fulbright scholarship. He taught at Penn State for two years, then worked as an advertising and promotion writer for magazines including Time, Look and McCall's. After writing "Catch-22," Heller also worked on several Hollywood screenplays and contributed to the TV show "McHale's Navy" under the pen name Max Orange.

He wrote his first play, Bombed in New Haven," which ran for 86 performances on Broadway in 1968. With publication of his second novel, "Something Happened" in 1974, he devoted himself to writing full time. "Good as Gold" followed in 1979. His later books didn't sell as well, but readers could find Heller taking the nihilistic vision of "Catch-22" and expanding upon it. "I think that's part of my approach to life and literature: to deal with the morbid, to deal with OBITUARIES OBITUARIES GREENWOOD Arville L.

Jackson Arville L. Jackson, 78, died Sunday, Dec. 12, 1999, at Community Hospital South. He was a resident of Greenwood. DePauw.

His parents were Millard and Mary (Bigler) Jackson. He married LaVina (Risinger) Jackson. She JACKSON survives. Other JACKSON survivors include three sons, Ronald Jackson of New Albany and Dennis and Allen Hylton, both of Indianapolis; two daughters, Debra Jackson Pedzinski of Laporte and Patricia Rexroat of Indianapolis; two brothers, Earl Jackson of Leesburg, and Huber Jackson of Martinsville; two sisters, Mary Ellen Butler and Martha Phillips, both of Indianapolis; 15 grandchildren; four greatgrandchildren; and special friends, and Bobbie Jones. He was preceded in death by one son, Terry Hylton.

He was employed by Thermogas as a route delivery man for 22 years, retiring in 1975. He was a member of Greenwood Christian Church and Handcock Chapel Methodist Church. The Rev. Shan Rutherford will conduct a service at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Forest Lawn Wilson St.

Pierre Funeral Home, State Road 135 Chapel. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in White River Township. Memorial contributions may be made to the Greenwood Christian Church Building Fund.

INDIANAPOLIS Louis Nemeth Louis Nemeth, 82, died Sunday, Dec. 12, 1999, at St. Francis Hospital and Health Centers in Beech Grove. He was a resident of Indianapolis. He was born July 4, 1917.

His parents were John and Rosa (Varga) Nemeth. He married Eileen L. (Trimble) Nemeth. She survives. Other survivors include one son, Charles W.

Nemeth of Greenwood; one daughter, Susan K. Fiwek of Greenwood; one brother, Frank Nemeth of Bremen; one sister, Helen Caldwell of Bristol, and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers. He was employed by Nylon Craft in shipping, retiring in 1982. He was a member of St.

Timothy's Episcopal Church, Your Dental HEALTH by Philip J. Mirise, D.D.S. TREATING PERIODONTITIS Except in rare cases, gum disease Periodontitis is the advanced form of can be prevented by thorough daily gum disease that occurs when plaque plaque removal by brushing, cleaning on and around teeth hardens into cal- between teeth with floss or interdental culus (tartar). As it does so, the gums cleaners, eating a balanced diet, and begin to pull away from the teeth, and regularly visiting visiting us at CEDAR pockets form between teeth and gums. LANE FAMILY DENTISTRY for profesIn time, this can lead to disintegration sional cleanings.

For dental care that of gum tissue and bone to the point will bring you into the 21st century, call where teeth loosen and fall out. To 736-7476 to schedule an appointment. avert this outcome, teeth may be sub- At CEDAR LANE FAMILY DENTISTRY, jected to the standard treatment for we provide a full range of dental treatperiodontitis known as scaling and root ments, including preventive, restorative, planing. It involves first scraping the and cosmetic dentistry. We're located at surface of the tooth below the gumline.

850 Cedar Lane. Then root planing consists of removing P.S. About three out of four adults the bacteria-contaminated surface of over the age of 35 have some form of the root to clean it and make it more gum disease. acceptable for gum and tissue reattachment. Closet 883-0419 Meridian Parke Shoppes SR 135 Fairview (Near Kroger) NEW FALL SELECTED GROUPS ALFRED DUNNER KORET-TEDDI Skirts- Tops-Sweaters-Blouses-Blazers EVERYDAY PRICE TICKET CLEARANCE ALFRED DUNNER-KORET-TEDDI $999 TO $1999 EA.

TOPS BOTTOMS Monday -Saturday 10:00 5:30 Sunday 1:00 5:00 Franklin Evelyn Snider, 90 Greenwood Arville L. Jackson, 78 Indianapolis Louis Nemeth, 82 Elsewhere Glen A. Niebel, 61 American Legion Post 50 in South Bend and the Breezers Club in South Bend. He was a veteran of World War IL, discharged in 1945. A memorial service will be conducted at 3 p.m.

Thursday at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church. G.H. Herrmann Madison Avenue Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 7363 E.

21st Indianapolis, IN 46219, or St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, 2601 E. Thompson Road, Indianapolis, IN 46227. MOUNT AUBURN Glen A. Niebel Glen A.

Niebel, 61, died Saturday, Dec. 11, 1999, at his residence in Mount Auburn in Shelby County. He was born July 4, 1938, in Mount Auburn. His father was Sumner Niebel. His mother is Mildred (Mohr) McDonald.

He married Carolyn (Hagy) Niebel on Sept. 12, 1958. She also survives. Other survivors include two daughters, Jan Miller of Shelbyville and Jean Linville of Greenfield; one brother, Gene Niebel of Mount Auburn; and eight grandchildren. He was pre ceded in death by one son and one granddaughter.

He was the owner and operator of Niebel Engines Inc. in Mount Auburn since 1962. He was a member of USAC for more than 30 years. He was also a past school board member and former president of Southwestern School District. He was a trustee of Mount Auburn Cemetery Association and a member of First Christian Church in Shelbyville.

The Rev. Jerry Crouse will conduct a service at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Carmony-Ewing Broadway Funeral Home in Shelbyville. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Burial will be at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Shelby County, 114 S. Harrison Shelbyville, IN 46176, or the New Life Methodist Cancer Fund, 6145 N. County Road 400W, Fairland, IN 46126. FRANKLIN Evelyn (Henschen) Snider Evelyn (Henschen) Snider, 90, died Sunday, Dec.

12, 1999, at her residence in Franklin. She married Rayman O. Snider. He preceded her in death. Survivors include two sons, Rayman W.

and Richard E. Snider; one daughter, Marilyn S. Johnson; one brother, Art Henschen; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. She a 1931 graduate of Butler University, earning a bachelor of arts. She was a member of Plainfield Christian Church and Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, where she was past president.

A service will be conducted at 1 p.m. today at Crowp Hill Funeral Home. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to service time today at the funeral home. Burial will be at Crown Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Obituary policy The Daily Journal will publish obituaries of area residents, former residents and residents' close relatives. The Daily Journal takes obituary information from funeral homes, but members of the deceased's immediate family also may submit information. All obituaries are verified with funeral homes before publication. The deadline for obituaries sent by fax is 1:30 p.m.

Sunday through Friday for publication Monday through Saturday. For obituaries sent electronically, the deadline is 4:30 p.m. UP PHOTO Author Joseph Heller, shown here in 1961, added a popular expression to the American lexicon with his first novel, "Catch-22." the tragic, but also to introduce comedy," Heller said in a 1998 interview with The Associated Press. In "Something Happened," the author entered the confused, tortured mind of a suburban father. "God Knows," in 1984, took readers through a ranting monologue by King David, who complained at the end the book, "I want my God back!" In "Picture This," in 1989, the author looked back to ancient Greece and concluded history was one long Catch-22.

To interviewers who asked him about never having written another book as successful as his first, he answered: "Who has?" Many critics called "Closing Time," his sixth novel, a lukewarm followup to "Catch-22," but Heller considered it a sequel only in the loosest sense. Yossarian and his friends looked back on old acquaintances, former marriages and the Coney Island of Heller's own youth. In 1981, Heller contracted Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disorder that left him nearly paralyzed for six months. After lengthy therapy, and with the aid of his boyhood friend Speed Vogel, he largely recovered. They wrote a book about his ordeal, "No Laughing Heller had recently submitted the final revisions for his last novel, "Portrait of an Artist: as an Old Man." It is scheduled to be published next year.

1'1 FRANKLIN UNITED METHODIST COMMUNITY Offering Independent and Assisted Living Apartments (units now available) Your Choice: Guaranteed Care for Life or Rental by the Month No Asset Turnover Required! All Faiths and Denominations Welcome! When you, or someone you love, needs a helping hand, let our staff provide you assistance with quality meals, regular housekeeping and health care availability. Provided in clean, attractive facilities, right here in your neighborhood. For a personal tour, please call Jill Hadley 736-1104 Providing Excellence in Retirement Living Since 1957 Sprint. A new bill for the new millennium. The point of With input from our customers, Sprint has designed a new phone bill with a reader-friendly design.

The streamlined, easier-to-understand bill is scheduled to hit customers' mailboxes in the spring of 2000. Earlier this year, Sprint conducted customer focus groups in many cities to identify improvements customers wanted in their local phone bill. Sprint also gathered input from its call center representatives who interact with customers on a daily basis. That input was crucial in making some significant improvements, which include: Using simple language instead of codes and industry terminology. For example, long-distance charges currently are identified by rate codes like "AD" or "AE." The new bill Jim Wagner will simply detail whether the Public Affairs Manager call was made in the "day" or "evening." Sprint Adding a heading on each page that has Sprint's customer service number.

Sprint's Internet address and the customer's account number. Placing short messages in the left margin of the page, eliminating the need for 81 full-page and half-page ads As part of our throughout the bill. 100th anniversary, attention to important areas like "amount Sprint is pleased due" and "date due" by using to provide this white lettering in black boxes. information to breaks. Eliminating unnecessary page 27 85012345672009 00000000006051 000060513 9929509 help you get the Following each subtotal most out of your on the front page with "see page instead of "see detail" so a customer will know exactly telecommunication where to find the breakdown of charges.

services. Adding a "change in service" section, listing changes in local and long-distance providers, calling features and number of phone lines. It also lists the dates changes occurred. Customers who participated in the focus groups are pleased that we implemented their suggestions on how to make the bill easier to read and understand. We think you'll really see a difference when you compare your current bill to the new one.

The new phone bill is just one way that Sprint strives to provide the highest quality of service to our customers. CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF SERVICE SPR-008301.