Gerald "Jerry" Bruce Dilley passed away Dec. 7, 2013. He was born May 25, 1947, in Caldwell, Idaho, to M. Clyde and Virginia (Fitch) Dilley. He attended Caldwell schools graduating in 1966.

After spending time in Vietnam he returned to Idaho and worked in the mines at Kellogg, Ind. Returning to Caldwell, he worked driving for the ambulance service. This sparked his interest in medicine and he graduated in the first class of Canyon County paramedics.

In 1978, he met and later married Pat Schoen, combining their families to make five children. At this time he also started his own business, Superior Blasting, Inc. Two of his boys later joined him in this endeavor, one as a driller and one as a powder man.

In 1984, he became a member of the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE). In 1997, he became an original, investor and board member of Northwest Energetic Services, a new company in Oregon that sold and distributed explosive products. This provided Jerry and Pat numerous trips to Alaska, Hawaii and other areas of the U.S.

For many years, Jerry and his crew spent the Fourth of July providing a fireworks display for the city of Caldwell. In 2002, Jerry was surprised and honored to receive the Blaster's Leadership Award from the ISEE. Along with his wife Pat, he is survived by 5 children: Gina Dilley, David Dilley, Dave (Holly) Schoen, Danny (Maria) Schoen and Debra Gates. He is also survived by brothers Harlan Dilley and Mike Dilley; four sisters Gloria Corn, Karen Soran, Patricia Ringer and Candie (Cliff) Burdine; ten grandchildren Tyler Schoen, Megan Schoen, Bradley Dilley, Austin Fusselman, Kristina Dilley, Makayla Schoen, Karley Fusselman, Alisha Dilley, Grady Gates and Gentry Gates; plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Everyone that knew him considered him a friend. A special thank you to doctors Randall Hutchings; Michael Mallea; Steven Writer; Christopher Sjoberg, CNP; Dr. Otto and the white team at Meridian Elks Wound Care. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to American Diabetes Association or a charity of your choice.

A viewing will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 at Flahiff Funeral Chapel, Caldwell. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at Canyon Hill Church of the Nazarene, Caldwell; interment will follow at Canyon Hill Cemetery, Caldwell. Condolences can be made at www.flahifffuneralchapel.com.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas Patrick Dowling, a founding member of the ISEE. Mr. Dowling was born on September 27, 1927, in Ocean View, Va., the son of Patrick E. and Marion A. (Kelly) Dowling.

He graduated from St. Joseph’s Parochial Grade School, Toms River, N.J.: Lakewood High School, Lakewood, N.J.; and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology.· He also was awarded a Doctorate of Civil Engineering from that university. He graduated from the Engineer Officer Candidate School, Fort Belvoir, Va., and served as an Engineering Officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

He held technical positions with Trojan Powder Company, CSC Corporation, International Minerals and Chemicals, Angus Chemical Corporation, Appalachian Explosives Company and was employed as manager, technical services, with the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME). He was a consultant on blasting and explosives issues.

Mr. Dowling was a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania and Virginia and was a licensed blaster in Pennsylvania for more than 50 years. He was a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, The Society of Mining Engineers, a 50 year member of the Society of American Military Engineers and a founding member of the International Society of Explosives Engineers. He served on the IME Technical Committee for more than 30 years and on a number of Committees of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). He chaired the NFPA 495 AND 498 committees.

He held a number of patents for explosives and blasting products and authored and served as contributing editor for technical articles on explosives and blasting procedures.

Mr. Dowling was a life-long Roman Catholic and was a member of St. James Roman Catholic Church of Charles Town, W. Va.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Granis E. (Pyles) Dowling and a number of nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service

A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, at:

St. James Catholic Church
49 Crosswinds Dr.
Charles Town, WV· 25414

Friends from the church will be hosting a brief reception following the service. Tom's ashes will be buried in a family plot in Romney, W. Va., at a future date. Granis thanks everyone for their thoughts and prayers and understands it may be difficult for many to attend.

Tom Onstott, passed away on July 6, 2013, after an extended illness, surrounded by h is family and friends. Tom was an author of 10 novels, including three that were published. He was an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoyed hunting, fishing and working on the small family farm. Tom was born in Beulah, N.D., but was raised in a small mining town north of the Yellowstone Park border. 

He worked in and around the mining and construction industries, highlighted by various company upper management positions.

It is with great sadness that the ISEE announces the passing of Dr. Hans-Peter Rossmanith. Dr. hans_peter_rossmanithRossmanith passed away June 26, 2013. He was one of the cornerstones of the fragblast community.

Born in 1947, Hans-Peter Rossmanith earned his doctorate in mathematics and physics from the University of Vienna. After successfully completing his studies, he became an assistant professor at the Vienna University of Technology.

He spent time performing research at the University of Maryland, in the United States, and later followed the call back to the TU Vienna. Dr. Rossmanith conducted extensive research in the field of fracture mechanics, studying the breakage of materials and developing damage models for solids and structures.

A major contributor to fragblast history, Dr. Rossmanith presented his research at the International Symposiums on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting; was the editor in chief for the Blasting and Fragmentation Journal, which is published by the International Society of Explosives Engineers; and was a member of the Fragblast International Organizing Committee (FIOC).

Dr. Rossmanith published numerous articles in scientific journals and regularly lectured at conferences. He also organized many successful meetings and conferences, bringing together researchers from around the globe.

Dr. Rossmanith was very interested in the history of mechanics, especially the historical development of fracture mechanics. His unique insights helped bring to life his lectures.

Dr. Rossmanith was fond of cooking and was an avid gardener, painter and composer.

Our condolences go out to his family. Dr. Rossmanith will be sorely missed.