Life, the most precious commodity on planet earth. It’s more precious than gold, silver, or any amount of money imagined.
God, our creator, is the giver of life itself. The scriptures declare our life is but a vapor that soon vanishes. Some don’t even get the chance to experience life as we know it. Such is the case of Ivy Lois Balcar.
Ivy’s date of birth and date of death are the same, May 5, 2024. Upon her birth, Ivy didn’t see a loving mother or father, nor any proud grandparents. No, Ivy experienced something much greater, much meaningful. Ivy’s first glimpse was of her savior’s face.
The question is asked today of when does life begin. God has already answered this in Jeremiah 1:5. “I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb.”
God knew little Ivy before any of us got a chance to see her. In Psalm 116:15 it states that “precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
Our creator must have thought of Ivy as special and took her home to be with him immediately. He spared her from earth’s heartaches, disappointment, sickness, sadness, pain, and all the bad things we have to endure.
Ivy Lois Balcar is now a resident of heaven. Ivy lives in perfection, safe forever in the arms of Jesus. David said in 2 Samuel, upon the death of his son, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”
That precious little girl cannot return to us, but we can go to her one day. The key to that reunion is faith in the savior that holds her today, Jesus.
DON’T YOU WANT TO GO?
FOREVER OUR ANGEL
WE LOVE YOU IVY LOIS BALCAR
DAD AND MOM, DREW AND EMILY BALCAR
JOHN T. BAUGH JR.
EAA EMERITUS DIRECTOR
12/16/1933 - 02/28/2025
John served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, serving on both USS Renshaw and USS Gregory from March 3, 1952, to February 27, 1956, participating in five naval engagements and Operation Castle.
John was a Nashville native, building contractor, realtor, business leader, and became the founder and chairman of Centurion Stone Products (formerly Coronado Stone) in 1969. John started his flying career as pilot of his own company and became an avid aviation leader in the warbird and flying community nationwide.
John was best known for performing in air shows in his P-51 Mustang, Miss Coronado. He owned and restored many aircraft including a Stearman PT-17, ME 108, P-51, T-34’s, and many other earlier antiques and warbirds and won many restoration awards. He was also member of EAA and EAA’s Vintage Aircraft Association and Warbirds of America, Valient Air Command, CAF, and others.
John served many years on the Lebanon Airport Commission, TN Aeronautics’ Commission, national EAA board, national EAA Warbirds of America board serving as president five terms, and serving as president on many local organizations through the years including EAA, the Quiet Birdmen, Nashville Homebuilders, Rotary, Kiwanis, and many others.
John was one of the first to be inducted in the EAA Warbirds Hall of Fame in 1995 and was inducted into the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004. He won the 1998 ESPN Telly Award for Keep ‘Em Flying, and the Award of Excellence for Career Contributions in 2005 by the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission.
John continued to serve on the EAA board as well as the Warbirds board for many years and became an EAA emeritus director as well as an EAA Warbirds emeritus director. Johns’ accomplishments include the founding of the Young Eagles program during his EAA board term, starting Warbirds chapters during his Warbirds term with the first Warbirds chapter, Warbirds Squadron 1, starting in Lebanon, Tennessee.
John was awarded the EAA Major Achievement Award by Paul Poberezny and bonded with both Paul and Audrey for a very special friendship over the many years. John was a lifetime EAA member (EAA Lifetime 64463), lifetime Warbirds member (Warbirds Lifetime 1452), and also member 495 of the T-34 Association.
John was a certified flight instructor, FAA safety designee, and formation flight leader flying many air shows along with his wife Deborah in their matching T-34’s for many years. On July 27, 1988, John and Deborah got married in the EAA chapel and have returned there for their anniversary celebration every year during AirVenture.
BARBARA SUE CLARK
ENGINEER, PILOT, LOVED
07/28/1953 - 09/02/2024
Barbara Sue Clark, 71, passed away on September 2, 2024, at Halifax Health Hospice, Port Orange. Barbara received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Cornell University in 1975 and her Master of Science from Manhattan College in 1977. She loved engineering — both working for American Cyanamid from 1977 to 1994 and later volunteering with Spruce Creek Public Works. Her responsibilities at American Cyanamid had her traveling throughout the United States, initially working on water and air pollution issues and treatment systems, and then throughout Europe. She particularly loved her time spent in Sicily and the Netherlands. Not surprisingly, Barbara loved the outdoors — water skiing, snow skiing, hiking, skeet shooting, and tennis. Throughout her marriage she and Fred traveled extensively; a tradition that they carried on with their daughter Jennifer as she grew up. Blue Mountain in the Adirondacks was her favorite hiking place, as her family maintained a cottage there for years. She was a wonderful wife, marvelous mother, and a warm friend to so many people. Barbara was predeceased by her parents, Gerald and Elizabeth Clark. She is survived by Fred Telling, her husband of 49 years; Jennifer Telling, her daughter; and Gabriel Telling-Mehrabanzad, her grandson.
JOE CLARK
PILOT~INNOVATOR~CONTRIBUTOR
09/09/1941 - 03/30/2020
Founder & CEO, Aviation Partners, Inc.
Chairman, Aviation Partners Boeing
Joe Clark was born on September 9, 1941, and earned his pilot’s license in 1961. At the 1964 Reno Air Races, Clay Lacy gave him a ride in a Learjet and he became hooked on aviation. He founded Jet Air in 1966 as the first Learjet dealer for the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Later, Joe served as vice president of sales for Raisbeck Engineering. He left to be cofounder of a new regional airline called Horizon Air. When Horizon was sold to Alaska Airlines in 1988, they had grown from 3 airplanes and 35 employees to 54 airplanes and 1,500 employees.
Joe Clark founded Aviation Partners, Inc. (API), with Montana Partner, Dennis Washington, in 1991 to develop advanced Winglet technology for business and commercial aircraft. In 1999 Joe formed a joint venture with The Boeing Company, Aviation Partners Boeing (APB), to offer Blended Winglets for Boeing commercial airliners. Aviation Partners is the world leader in advanced Winglet technology. To date, more than 10,000 business and commercial aircraft flying with Blended Winglet technology are estimated to have saved over 16.5 billion gallons of jet fuel resulting in a corresponding global reduction of approximately 150 million tons of C02 emissions.
Professional Pilot Magazine named Joe Innovator of the Year in 2001. He was inducted into Living Legends of Aviation in 2008 and was awarded the Seattle Museum of Flight Pathfinder in 2008. Joe was also inducted into the Horatio Alger Association in 2008. He was awarded the Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur of the Year by Living Legends of Aviation in 2010 and was the 2010 International Air & Space Hall of Fame Inductee, Entrepreneur & Aviation Innovator by the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Joe was awarded the Meritorious Service Award from the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA) in 2015.
Joe was an active pilot and flew many different types of aircraft including jets and helicopters. He held an Airline Transport pilot rating. He came to Oshkosh dozens of times and was a great supporter of many aviation charities and causes. Joe passed away on March 30, 2020.
JIM CLEMENT 12-31-38/4-27-24
A TALE OF 12 TAILWINDS
12/31/1938 - 04/27/2024
Jim was born and raised in Baraboo, Wisconsin. At an early age he already had a passion for speed. He built and raced soap box derby cars as a kid, going as far as Akron, Ohio. When in Akron he got to meet Ronald Reagan when he was “just” an actor. His passion continued on for the rest of his life, building his first hot rod as a high school shop project. He graduated Baraboo High School in 1957 and took up flying the same year. A J-4 Cub was his first airplane, which was purchased for $900. After high school he went on to A&P school and served in the Air Guard.
Jim’s first airplane build started in 1963, a Cassutt racer. He was married to Donna Allert in April 1964 and first flew the Cassutt in November of the same year. In 1968, seeking speed and adrenaline, he took the Cassutt to the Cleveland Air Races. Apparently, someone else wanted the airplane more than he did as it found a new owner at the race. He then went on to race a friend’s Cassutt for several more races.
The late ‘60s and early ‘70s were rather eventful as he built and raced open wheel Midget race cars and welcomed three children. He spent the late ‘70s raising children and starting his own business, Clement Auto Body and Sales. In the early ‘80s Jim’s passion for aviation returned, and taking “a liking to” the Wittman Tailwind would be an understatement. He went on to build and perfect 12 Tailwinds (including two tri-gear variants), finishing his last Tailwind at 80 years old. Amongst all the Tailwind builds he found time to fit in various other projects to include a Hyperbipe and his own creation, the Butterburger (a mix between a Wittman Buttercup and a Tailwind). In 1993 Jim was honored to receive the Wright Brothers award for plansbuilt experimental aircraft in Dayton, Ohio, and was presented the award by Steve Wittman himself. His airplanes went on to win many trophies and awards including five Bronze Lindys at AirVenture. Mixed in with all the airplanes, he somehow found time to build five hot rods, four of which were after he retired from the body shop business.
DON DEWITT
EAA IAC 1942-2023
09/18/1942 - 12/13/2023
Donald Bernard DeWitt was born on September 18, 1942, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, to Bernard and Alice DeWitt. He joined his brother, Richard, while his father was a flight instructor for Royal Air Force pilots during WWII. The family returned to Palos Heights, Illinois, where his sister, Diane DeWitt (Asheville, North Carolina), joined them. Both of his parents and his brother were pilots, and the whole family flew together out of Howell Airport in Crestwood, Illinois. His uncle, Bob Adamec, also flew out of the same airport. His parents and his uncle had tremendous influence in fostering his love of flying from an early age. His dad taught him to fly, and his uncle taught him to maintain aircraft.
Don enlisted in the Army as a helicopter mechanic in 1961 after his graduation from Blue Island High School. When he returned from the Army, he became an electrician for IBEW Local 134, a job he enjoyed for over 40 years. In 1971, he married his wife of 52 years, Sharon (Browner). The couple enjoyed traveling together. They have called Elk Grove Village, Illinois, home for 45 years. Don and Sharon have three children: Christine (Victor Hughes) of Jacksonville, Florida; Sherry; and Donald. Sherry and Donald both reside in Elk Grove Village. “GP” adored his two granddaughters, Agnes and Alexandra Hughes, and never missed an opportunity to spend time with them.
Don’s love for flying started as a child and never waned. He restored his parents’ Piper Cub. He clipped the wings and added a larger engine, enabling it to fly aerobatics, and added a smoke system. Don also built and flew a Pitts Special S1. As an IAC member, he participated in many aerobatic contests and competed in the Sportsman category. He also flew in many air shows throughout the years. He was featured on the cover of Sport Aerobatics in February 1976.
He attended EAA’s fly-in convention almost every year since 1965. He loved the event’s camaraderie, talking with fellow aviators, catching up with old and new friends, learning new methods of recovering an aircraft, watching the daily air show, and walking the rows and rows of aircraft, admiring the antiques and warbirds.
Most days, he could be found at Lewis Airport, enjoying what he loved — flying loops and rolls, attending fly-ins, and his aviation community of friends. He enjoyed flying with friends, formation flying for memorial tributes, and practicing touch-and-gos at friends’ nearby grass strips. We all have fond memories of flying with him, usually with no particular destination in mind, just flying for fun.
Don had so many friendships; many friends acted as a mentor to him as he started out, and in later years, many friends to whom he became a mentor. There are too many friends to list; what a blessing.
He touched many with his warm smile and soft-spoken personality. His eyes have always been drawn skyward, and after a peaceful passing on December 13, 2023, due to complications from lymphoma, he returned to the sky to be with the Lord.
PAUL P. DRIES * USAF 1961-65
WE MISS YOU DAD * EAA CH. 60
08/25/1938 - 03/25/2024
Paul Peter Dries was born on August 25, 1938. He was a longtime resident of Janesville, Wisconsin, and a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 60 in nearby Beloit. Paul’s love of aviation took root early. He spent his youth in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, where EAA was founded in 1953 by Paul Poberezny. He signed up for flying lessons and honed his aviation skills at Timmerman Field in nearby Milwaukee. In stories that he later shared with his daughter, Paul recalled past interactions with — and an enduring respect for — Mr. Poberezny. At one point, he trained to be a professional pilot and flight instructor, but a life-altering back injury grounded that dream. Instead, Paul joined the Air Force. After four years of serving Uncle Sam, he pursued a degree in electrical engineering. Throughout his life Paul would design, build, modify, re-engineer, retrofit, and tweak model airplanes, tools, machines, and other contraptions. In 1966 Paul married Ann V., and they became the parents of two girls and a boy. Paul’s adult children and his grandchildren fondly recall time spent together at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, along with paternal cousin Patrick Kevin — who was inspired to become a EAA Lifetime member himself! In later years, Paul volunteered for Chapter 60 fly-in pancake breakfasts, helped construct a replica of a handbuilt aircraft for a centennial celebration of the first civilian flight in Wisconsin, and was thrilled to join a sunset flyover on a WWII B-17 bomber that was featured in a Rock County air show.
A child of the ‘30s who came of age in the 1940s and 50s, Paul exemplified the best qualities of mid20th-century generations — intelligence, ingenuity, self-reliance, humility, and a devotion to family and friends. Paul apprenticed as a carpenter before earning a bachelor’s degree. He earned a pilot’s license and loved to ride motorcycles. One family story tells how — while home on temporary leave from the Air Force — Airman First Class Dries disassembled his Harley Davidson and shipped it to Lajes Field on Terceira Island, off the coast of Portugal. Paul rode that bike all over the Azores archipelago before shipping it to the continental mainland, where he used it to explore Europe. He taught himself the Spanish and Slovenian languages. He and Ann often visited her native Slovenia, and he regarded her European family as his own. Paul was always learning new things; up until his last month he took an active interest in history, ideas, events, and new opportunities. His curiosity and love of flying are part of a cherished legacy that he left for family. He and Ann imbued each of their children and grandchildren with a sense of adventure and delight in travel — foreign and domestic.
Paul passed away on March 25, 2024, surrounded by those who love him dearly and think of him every day. His plaque on the Memorial Wall of the EAA is a fitting and forever tribute to a man of honor and integrity, and to a life well lived. We miss you, Dad!
JOHN ECKALBAR – HE MADE THE
COMPLEX UNDERSTANDABLE
09/29/1948 - 09/09/2024
John Eckalbar was a late baby boomer, born in Michigan in 1948.
It’s hard to imagine a person with more diverse interests than John Eckalbar. As an economics professor at Chico State, instead of the mumbo jumbo that economists usually deal in, John worked on mathematical modelling of economic systems to predict outcomes more accurately.
As a math and science guy he was interested in all sorts of modelling; he even collaborated with his son Walter III (a molecular biologist) to model the spread of infectious diseases. Many of these investigations were published. In 2015 he was named Outstanding Professor at Chico State.
He pursued all of his interests with great vigor — for example, he traded flight hours for guitar lessons with David Crosby! He was a champion breaststroke swimmer and, of course, an Eagle Scout. While in New Orleans at LSU, not only did he meet his future wife Anne Wilderman, but he started a band, “The Sticks.”
John’s dad Walter Jr. was a Naval aviator, flying B-24 Liberators and Catalinas. Later he flew for TWA. So, it’s not surprising that John began his flight training in Saskatoon while on a teaching assignment there. Back in Chico, John bought his dream airplane, a Beech Bonanza, which he flew around the country visiting family.
Attacking the Bonanza with his usual vigor, he wrote and published the definitive book on the subject: Flying the Beech Bonanza. Much more than just a how-to, it explores the reasons driving the advice, making generous use of math and physics. In about 1984, John and two others founded a pilot training program for the American Bonanza Society that later became the BPT. He published two additional books, Flying High Performance Singles and Twins and IFR: A Structured Approach. For many years selections from these books were foundational for topics presented for pilot training both in the U.S. and Australia.
During a sabbatical, John flew packages for FedEx in Cessna Caravans and flew people for Net Jets in Citation Ultras. He was a frequently sought-after flight instructor — especially for those seeking advanced ratings. Aside from excellence in all these endeavors, the memorable thing about John was his ability to make very complex subjects accessible to normal mortals! Lucky was the econ student who showed up in his office to get help on a troubling concept. He always explained aircraft strength by using a chalk talk and standing on aluminum soda cans to demonstrate monocoque structural strength. The picture here shows him making such a point.
It’s hard to imagine a better coach for these tough topics. He even explained string theory in a way that made at least a little sense! I’m sure he helped those in his family figure things out, too. John loved mastering subjects and passing his knowledge on to others.
Sadly, in September 2024 John died of complications from a hemorrhagic stroke. We all miss him terribly.
ELTON L. EISELE, EAA 216273
THE SPIRIT OF OSHKOSH
11/13/1952 - 03/24/2025
Elton Eisele was a passionate and dedicated EAA member and volunteer who truly embodied the “Spirit of Oshkosh.” A lifelong aviator, educator, and leader, he poured his heart into the EAA community for nearly four decades.
Elton grew up in an aviation family. His father, Edward D. Eisele, was a WWII and Korean War veteran, F-84 pilot, air traffic controller, National Air Show Coordinator, and former Deputy Chief of the FAA’s General Aviation Division. That legacy shaped Elton’s journey, but he forged his own path as a music educator and flight instructor.
His first visit to Oshkosh came in the summer of 1982, just one year after marrying his wife, Nancy — from that point on, he never missed an AirVenture. Unemployed at the time and armed with only $8 in his pocket, he described that first trip as being “like a kid in a candy store with no money.” He worked for Harold Holmes selling instructional flight videos for a few years before officially joining the volunteer ranks in 1986.
He raised his four boys at the convention where he passed along his love for aviation and made Oshkosh a central part of his family’s life. Year after year, he returned not just to watch airplanes, but to serve and celebrate aviation with the people who flew them.
In his 37 years as a volunteer, Elton led and contributed in many capacities, including co-chairman of “FlyBy” briefings, chairman of departure briefings, and founder and director of the EAA Concert Band. He also volunteered in maintenance, South 40 flightline operations, Vintage aircraft, and the Lifetime Member’s Oasis. From briefings to baton cues, Elton brought both structure and soul to everything he touched.
In 1994, Elton competed in his first International Aerobatic Club Championships in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and placed first place in Basic. He served as president of EAA Chapter 790 from 2009 to 2016 and, after retiring as a high school band director in 2012, returned to Oshkosh for much of the year. There, he worked as a certified flight instructor for the EAA Employee Flying Club, volunteered as an EAA museum docent, and devoted countless hours to South Maintenance, where he helped cut the grass, restore Volkswagens, and build many of the signature blue water fountains seen throughout the grounds. Elton’s presence was unmistakable — his voice, smile, and friendly wave from the Spirit Volkswagen were fixtures at AirVenture. But beyond the roles he held or the work he did, he was proudest of simply being an EAA member. At the heart of it all, he believed in the mission, the community, and the joy that Oshkosh brings to aviators and their families around the world. Elton Eisele’s spirit will forever be part of the fabric of Oshkosh — in the sound of distant radial engines, in the music drifting from the Nature Pavilion, and in the steady hum of volunteers doing what they love. “That’s what it’s about.”
VERNON MCLEOD FORBES, JR.
02/04/1945 - 04/01/2024
Vernon McLeod “Mac” Forbes, Jr., 79, of Gold Hill, passed away Monday, April 1, 2024.
He was born February 4, 1945, in Wilmington to the late Vernon McLeod Forbes, Sr. and Hazel Edgerton Forbes. Mr. Forbes was a graduate of Williams High School in Burlington and then attended East Carolina University. He would then begin a 31-year career with Federated Mutual Insurance Company where he worked in sales and marketing. Mr. Forbes obtained his pilot license in 1969 and would maintain his love for the sky until the end. He and his wife were active with EAA and enjoyed their annual fly-in and camping trip to AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and SUN ‘n FUN in Lakeland, Florida. He also looked forward to the annual gathering for the South Carolina Breakfast Club that EAA Chapter 1083 would host at Mid-Carolina Regional Airport. After moving to Gold Hill, he became an active member of Gold Hill Methodist Church.
In addition to his parents, Mac was preceded in death by his beloved dog, Rudder.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Donna Forbes; sister, Mary Cobb Woodard; niece, Charlsie Woodard; two nephews, Tom Woodard and Joe Woodard; sister-in-law, Loretta Hodges; niece, Ashley Osborne; nephew, Ron Hodges; and 12 great-nieces and nephews.
JOE GAUTHIER: FRIEND, MENTOR
AMBASSADOR FOR AVIATION
10/15/1939 - 07/21/2024
Joseph J. Edward Gauthier, 1939-2024, of Cromwell, Connecticut, loved flying and homebuilt airplanes. Fueled by his service in the U.S. Air Force, he became a certified A&P mechanic, accomplished pilot, certified flight instructor (CFII), FAA safety counselor, test pilot, and speaker. He joined Hartford EAA Chapter 166 in 1967 and served many roles, including as president. Joe was flight advisor for the chapter, weighing in on building techniques and flight safety. He had the experience and gave generously to help people build and fly safely.
For many years, his basement was host to weekly “airplane building workshops,” open to all. Dozens of homebuilt aircraft that he had a hand in were often flown to the AirVenture show each summer. Joe almost never missed Oshkosh, participating for more than 50 years. With a passion for safety and a tough but fair regulatory environment, Joe became the first designated airworthiness representative (DAR), helping to write regs with the FAA for homebuilt aircraft. His attention to detail led to requiring the most experienced people to sign off the airworthiness certificate, with a thorough checklist. He test flew more than 90 aircraft for their first flight and was proud to have flown more than 238 different aircraft.
Joe loved talking to young people and believed they were the future of homebuilt aviation. Starting in the early ‘70s, Joe hosted first grade classes for a tour of his airplane project, often housed in his basement. Joe was excited about the EAA Young Eagles student members and their work on the RV-12 project. Over the years, Joe was the recipient of many awards including the first Tony Bingelis Award and the EAA President’s Award for outstanding and dedicated service to sport aviation. He received accolades from dozens of grateful builders and pilots.
“Perhaps [his] greatest achievement… is the advancement of the EAA within the aviation community.” -- Laurent Gagnon
His love for his wife of 62 years, Carol, was undeniable. She was his constant companion, whether it be traveling to destinations to see new sights, flying to meet friends for a meal, or sitting at the hangar while he worked on airplanes. He was a devoted father to his daughters and loved spending time with his three grandchildren. Although he was proud of his accomplishments, he simply wanted to make a difference for sport aviation, one person or airplane at a time. Only possible with the loving support of his wife, who was also recognized as a multi-year volunteer in the AirVenture medical office, Joe was there – with Carol, to help.
Joe passed away just as AirVenture 2024 began. Family and friends joked that he stopped in Oshkosh on his way to Heaven. He would want his legacy to live on with love for family, respect for people, priority for safety, attention to detail, and “getting it right.” He is survived by his loving wife Carol, their daughters Betty Lynn Senes and Linda McLaughlin and their families, and his sister Mary Renaud and her family.
GARY GURGUL
“LOVE TIMES FOREVER”
06/20/1954 - 02/14/2022
Gary Gurgul was a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. The life he lived is a testament to making the best of things in the face of unimaginable adversity. He had a personality that was larger than life, with a bold warmth that brightened the days of those around him.
Frequenting diners and restaurants, he was quick to seek people that could use some encouragement. Whether that be a deep, hour-long talk about life or just a quick comment to make them smile, he was happy to do both.
He saw potential in people that they themselves may not see. On the back of his flip phone, he sported a worn, orange “special” sticker, like one that you would see on a grocery item. To a person having a rough day, he would lift it up and ask them to read him what the sticker said. Most would say, “special, oh I don’t think I’m special,” to which he would reply, “Jesus does.”
He is survived by his son Jonathan who was very close with Gary. They spent every meal and outing together with an inseparable bond and love. They faced adversities together but found joy in sharing great moments. Many of those moments were at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh and other air shows. He always admired the professionalism of EAA and AirVenture.
As he would often describe, the world sees us as the smallest corner of a picture, but Jesus sees us as the whole thing. Much as this passage doesn’t come close to capturing the depth to who Gary was. In his memory we could all have a better listening ear for those that need it, kindness for those that may not deserve it, and patience for people that we have no idea what they’re going through. He remains a light in this world, shining brightly in the people whose lives he has changed.
JOHN HACKNEY SERVANT & SOARER
EAA #64899 BUFFALO CH. 46
09/12/1929 - 08/15/2018
In dedication to John H. Hackney…
Have you ever wondered if there is life after death? I’m sure many have; however, John’s thoughts if asked would be, “What are you doing with the life you currently have? Cease from imagining things outside your control and foster what the Lord has given you. Be grateful and in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your path.” (Proverbs 3:6). Besides being a religious man, John, too, was also a realistic man.
What if anything does this expression of John Hackney have to do with EAA? Well, actually very little and more so a legacy he created within people. Looking beyond the aviation circle of family and friends, John was a natural mentor to everyone he encountered. One who could alter the perception of a room of ‘apparent strangers’ to a reality of feeling ‘togetherness’. John was just That Guy!
From a very young age, John’s community involvement and community service started as a Cub Scout, Scout and Air Scout, at a chapel on Cedar Street in Buffalo, New York. With a lifelong passion for aviation, he began building rubber-band powered flying models which advanced into small gasoline powered engine model aircraft. He was a charter member of a small airstrip in Amherst, New York, known as the Clarence Flying Club, Inc., becoming an EAA member in 1971 — which awarded him EAA 64899. From then, John purchased all the instructions, materials, and a Lycoming engine for a Sonerai single seat airplane which he had plans to build. John would always say, “Hope Springs Eternal” and “Keep the Faith.”
Academically gifted, John was just the second black graduate student in pharmacy from the University of Buffalo and worked as a cancer research scientist for New York State at Roswell Park Memorial (Cancer) Institute. During his tenure, he co-authored and assisted with several scientific papers published in scholarly journals. Even still, John never allowed the facts of what he accomplished as a professional scientist confuse the truth of his family held belief in ‘Who’ he was and more importantly ‘Whose” he was.
Married for 56 years to his beloved bride Wanda S. Hackney, John had a wonderful life, filled with teaching and being an inspiration to others, John’s light shone for many and proved to be the beacon for many others. If bored, he would suggest you read a book; if feeling inadequate, he would suggest you get out of your comfort zone. His belief was, “why not shine, as you are a child of God and worthy to be praised.”
There will never be another John H. Hackney! A fitting epitaph for John comes from Max Ehrmann’s 1927 poem Desiderata:
. . . You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not this is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should….
These are words John admired and lived his life by. John will be missed. To God be the Glory.
EUGENE G. HASEL
EAA 71675 FATHER & FRIEND
08/07/1930 - 06/06/2023
Eugene was born on August 7, 1930, at home in Oakland, Wisconsin, the son of Otto and Lola (Riess) Hasel. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He was head usher for many years and served on the Elder Board and Worship Board.
Eugene was a 1948 graduate of Lake Mills High School where he was a member of the FFA and football team.
He married his high school sweetheart, Betty Eilenfeldt, on September 23, 1950. Eugene and Betty farmed with their sons in Lake Mills until his retirement in 1995.
Eugene served on the AMPI Corporate Board, Tri-State Breeders Corporate Board, and the Jefferson County Holstein Board.
Gene and Betty enjoyed traveling both in Europe and the United States. A highlight of his travels was that he was able to attend the presidential dinner at the White House and dine with President Reagan.
He was an active member of the Lake Mills Rotary Club for more than 20 years where he received the honorary member award at the age of 90.
Gene received his pilot certificate at the age of 40 and loved flying from his own private airstrip. He was a member of EAA and visited AirVenture many times
Gene’s sons called him “Dad,” his grandchildren called him “Grandpa,” and his great-grandchildren called him “Papa Gene.”
He always had a twinkle in his eye and loved a good joke.
RICHARD H. KIMBERLY 1935-2023
LOVED FAMILY, EAA, & PACKERS
04/11/1935 - 11/23/2023
Dick was born in 1935 in Neenah, Wisconsin, where he was raised by his parents Elizabeth Essick and John R. Kimberly, and grew up with his sister Josephine and his brothers John and William. Dick attended the Asheville School, Wayland Academy, and Lawrence University. He was a United States Marine and was honorably discharged in 1956. Dick had a distinguished career with KimberlyClark Corporation, where he held various positions from 1957-2000 including consumer products and newsprint sales before he moved into government affairs at both the state and federal levels. He retired from K-C as the vice president of federal governmental affairs and then founded Kimberly Consulting, continuing his lobbying career. Throughout his career, Dick lived in Hendersonville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and settled in McLean, Virginia, in 1981.
Dick had a distinguished and diverse philanthropic involvement, serving on numerous professional, educational, and civic organizations and boards. He was a longstanding member of the American League of Lobbyists, serving as president in 1992 and 1993. Dick was honored to serve as a commissioner on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission. Dick was on the board of trustees for Wayland Academy and Zamorano University, an agricultural school in Honduras, serving as chairman at both. He was a board member of the National Business Aviation Association and was on the president’s council of the Experimental Aircraft Association. Dick was on the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Board of Governors and was also the first chairman of the American Film Institute’s Washington Chapter. Dick additionally served on the board of directors for Kimberly-Crest, the Redlands, California, home of great-grandfather John A. Kimberly, a founder of Kimberly-Clark.
Dick was a faithful and devoted Episcopalian, serving several dioceses in various positions, including senior warden at Saint Anne’s Church in Atlanta. Dick had numerous joys, especially water skiing and boating, often on the eastern shore of Maryland with family and friends. He was a dedicated lifelong Green Bay Packers fan and shareholder.
JAMES (JIM) KLICK EAA#106287
BLUE SKIES AND TAILWINDS
10/02/1941 - 10/31/2024
Jim’s life story cannot be told without including his five bouts of cancer, including five different types of tumors. He was mentioned frequently during the tumor conferences for the Oncology Department of the University of Chicago Hospital.
Jim always knew he wanted to fly. As a young boy, he loved watching airplanes flying overhead. When he was older, Jim built and flew model airplanes. At 11, Jim “boarded a bus and rode for two hours to Midway Airport in Chicago, paid a dime to stand in the observation deck and watch planes take off and land. Then take the bus back home,” Jim said, “and my mother would want to know where I was all day.”
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Air Force after high school where he fixed radios on airplanes and joined a flying club. “I did not have a college degree, so I could not get into pilot training,” said Jim. “But I was able to service airplanes and fly in a lot of military planes when I had the opportunity.” He had his first flying lesson at age 19 while stationed at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. He earned his pilot certificate in 1960.
Through the years, Jim taught flying and competed in and judged competitions. He owned a Pitts Special biplane. In 1943 the inventor of the Pitts biplane, Curtis Pitts, initially designed the airplane to be homebuilt. Its popularity grew so much that by the early 1970s it was mass produced. Jim’s was the initial factory design; its serial number is 1. A Pitts was ideal for Jim because it’s aerobatic, the correct term for flying upside down and other air stunts, a term Jim disliked. “Stunts are what they do in Hollywood when they jump off buildings,” said Jim. What we do is very much like Olympic figure skating. In more recent years, he owned a World War II military observation airplane.
Jim Klick is perhaps best known for his support of both the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) and the International Aerobatic Club (IAC). Judging regional and national NIFA contests continued to be a part of his résumé. He also volunteered as a judge at NIFA National SAFECON events. Jim was an avid aerobatic pilot with a significant history of competing in IAC competitions in his Pitts S-1S and was an expert on the Aresti system that is used to judge competition aerobatics. He served as a judge for the IAC for many years, and he also served as a mentor for IAC Sportsman competitors and university flight teams. He is a past president and officer of IAC Chapter 1. He was a member of the EAA Communication Center Green Gang.
Jim was a part of many organizations and received numerous awards.
Jim’s final flight may have ended, but his legacy continues through all of us; in the stories we will tell, the lessons we learned from him, and the examples he set of courage, persistence, and unwavering dedication to what matters most.
BLUE SKIES AND TAILWINDS, JIM. YOU WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED AND FOREVER REMEMBERED!
DIANE K LARSEN 1943-2024
WIFE • MOTHER • FRIEND
10/30/1943 - 12/27/2024
Diane was born October 30, 1943, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Burdette and Dorothy Sheldon. On November 18, 1961, she married her high school sweetheart and love of her life Charles H. Larsen. Diane had a career as a beauty operator in Sioux Falls before she and Chuck had children. Diane and Chuck moved to Cottage Grove, Minnesota, where Chuck taught elementary school and they started a family. Diane went to work as a school bus driver when her children began school. She later worked for 3M as a keypunch operator. In 1980 Chuck and Diane moved their family to Franklin, Wisconsin, where Chuck had accepted a job with the EAA and Diane worked as a keypunch operator at the USBC in Milwaukee. In 1984 the family moved again to Oshkosh along with EAA. She was employed as a data entry clerk at OshKosh B’gosh until her retirement. After retirement, Diane and Chuck enjoyed several years traveling the United States in their motor home.
During Chuck’s many years with EAA and the Air Academy, Diane was always at his side as a volunteer, doing everything under the sun. She fully supported Chuck’s 24/7 loyalty to teaching youth about aviation. Diane organized and attended many picnics, activities, and outings for the Air Academy staff and students. Diane loved spending time with her EAA friends, and many of those friends became family.
Diane’s children and grandchildren were her top priority and joy in life. She was there to celebrate every achievement and to provide unconditional support in the tough times. Our beautiful, sassy, funny lady will be forever loved and missed.
Diane is survived by her daughter, Jennifer (Robert) Wahl; son, Mark (Brenda) Larsen; grandchildren, Alyssa (Wes) Doberstein, Dustin Drexler, and Austin Larsen; great grandchildren, Easton Doberstein and Cara Doberstein; brother, Richard (Denise) Sheldon; brother, Jim Sheldon; sister, Linda (Gary) Shaw. Diane is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, bonus children, and friends. Diane was preceded in death by her husband Chuck, her parents Burdette and Dorothy Sheldon, and grandson Dylan Drexler
Diane Kay Larsen passed away with her family by her side on December 27, 2024, at The Residence in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at 81 years old.
Diane will be remembered for her sense of humor, strength, forever young heart, and love of turtles. The best way to honor her memory is to live in the moment and keep laughing.
AUSTIN L LAVICKA F27 SOARING
“RENAISSANCE MAN” LOVE A&F, MOM
04/13/1997 - 11/05/2024
From Austin’s mom, Christina LaVicka, EAA Lifetime 1547942: You were a blessing from God, born April 13, 1997; a wrong-way driver ended your life November 5, 2024, as you were driving home from the memory center after taking care of your residents. A healthy, beautiful 7 pounds, 7 ounces, /20 inches, who grew up to be a handsome, God fearing 6 feet. You were in this world for 27 years but my heart, the hearts of all who knew you, cries out for more time. Your dad and I were married several years when you completed our family with many beautiful memories and countless gatherings in our home and backyard. You were happy, smiling, curious, loving, joyful, witty, and singing with perfect pitch. You were 6 when your dad and I parted ways. I was then blessed to be the one who raised you and took care of you almost every day. We read books, played instruments, made up songs, harmonized, volunteered, went to church, and cooked. When you moved out (to remodel different homes) we continued our countless adventures. We went on several road and airplane trips: Arizona, Tenneessee, D.C., West Virginia, Arkansas, Chicago, Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and several trips to Florida and California beaches, etc. You could fix ANYthing, and your friends, coworkers, and family members were the recipients of your endless love and talents. You could fly airplanes and drones. You served (we volunteered during holidays at shelters, etc., and AirVenture) and had a God-given gift to always connect with all people with a true servant’s heart. At every job you never mentioned money, only how many people you had helped. From caretaking with the young and old to technology and remodeling homes, you were always about “who” you were serving. I hear countless stories of how you helped people with a crisis or simply had faith in them when no one else did. Old friends and new friends convey how proud I must be of the loving son I raised. Your friends come over and share pictures, stories, hugs, tears, laughter; they promise to always be in my life and carry on your legacy with me. Many tell me that you’re the one who first taught them how to give a “real” hug and now, my precious son, they give me those hugs when I need them most. The gifts you lavished on so many are now returning to bless and comfort me at this most unimaginable time. In your 27 years you have left a legacy most people could only aspire to. Everyone tells me that, despite your God given looks and talents, you never had an ego. You had no enemies. Everyone loved you, my son. On November 5, 2024, we talked in the morning and afternoon, then my last text to you was, “Every single day you’re at the place you’re at, you’re making someone’s world better.” I (and all your friends) wonder how much more you would have accomplished had your precious life not been taken so soon. Every soul and every creature you were helping needs wonderful you, your selfless heart, your incredibly brilliant mind in this world. Your voice that always seemed to defy anything of this earth is now in Heaven, singing more angelic than ever. “I’ll love you forever and like you for always.” See you in Heaven, Honey. Mom
VIKTORIA T.I. LJUNGMAN
WITH BRAVE WINGS SHE FLIES
05/11/2000 - 10/06/2022
Fly High Our Beloved Angel, Dance with The Stars Until We Meet Again. Mere words often fall short in our effort to describe the life and times of a loved one who leaves us suddenly and at a young age. For those of us left behind, we grieve and know that Viktoria would have realized so many more of her dreams, if only there was more time.
On October 6, 2022, family, friends, and the aviation community were again reminded of the fragile nature of life. It was on that day, pilot Viktoria Therèse Izabelle Ljungman’s bonds to this Earth were broken, and she touched the welcoming hand of the Creator. Although Viktoria was with us for only a brief time, her accomplishments were many.
She was a beautiful, bright, and charismatic young woman who had an aura about her that made others gravitate toward her warm and friendly persona. A leader pushing fellows to strive high, a genuine pillar who motivated people through tough times and celebrated them when their goals were achieved. She was independent, adventurous, dedicated, persistent, and daring, yet she was blessed with a kind heart and welcoming demeanor. She was her parents’ gift to the world.
Viktoria was born on May 11, 2000, in Gothenburg, Sweden, and grew up in Torekov and in Bahrain with her older brother, Karl, and her mother, Elizabeth. She was a precocious child who loved to learn. Viktoria spoke five languages; she loved music, dancing, and sports which she excelled at, especially tennis, with tennis earning her a scholarship to attend university in the United States. Beyond all of Viktoria’s many and varied interests, her dream was to fly and become a commercial airline pilot. Her determination and daring sense of adventure brought her to the United States to study aviation and flight management. Her dedication to learning and her persistent pursuit of excellence in the classroom earned her the Summa Cum Laude distinction at graduation.
It was in Virginia where Viktoria began her flying career, first as a private pilot, then earned a commercial pilot certificate, and last as certified flight instructor. Viktoria persevered through long hours of study, the pressure of written and oral exams, the thrill of her first solo flight after only 14 hours and her cross-country solo flight. Yes, Viktoria loved being an aviator, tennis player, and lifelong learner. For now, we can still see this passion for flying on her exceedingly popular Instagram account, Viktoriathepilot. It is here that she skillfully combined her love of flying and music to the delight of her thousands of followers.
While we know there were big plans and opportunities for what Viktoria’s future might have been, we also know that her time on Earth was a life fully lived. Viktoria, 22 years old, leaves behind a legacy of passion and purpose, adventure, kindness, inspiration, love, and joy. Her lifespan was short, but her wingspan was vast. Now the angels welcome another pilot. May Our Memories of Viktoria be a Blessing. Gone too soon!
ANGELO MARONESE
“SEMPRE NEL CIELO”
08/28/1944 - 04/22/2024
Mr. Angelo Maronese of Thunder Bay, Ontario, passed away on April 22, 2024, at age 79.
Angelo was born in Meduna di Livenza, Italy, and immigrated to Fort William, Ontario, Canada, in 1960. In 1969, he was hired as a technician by Ontario Hydro, and he spent the next three decades working for the utility as a protection and control technologist.
Angelo got his private pilot license via Lakehead Flying School in 1973, and he soon after acquired a Cessna 120 with a friend, C-FQWC. About ten years later, he and a few other friends traded up to a Cessna 172, C-FSQH, and the airplane was sold in the early 1990s.
Beginning in 1976, he would make regular pilgrimages to the EAA AirVenture convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, roughly every three to four years. His son Nicholas, who would go on to obtain his own private pilot license in 2014 and began attending with him in 2003. Angelo last attended EAA AirVenture in 2018.
JAMES “GIZ” MARTIN
PILOT AND FAITHFUL FRIEND
10/22/1934 - 02/20/2025
James “Giz” Martin
A little boy’s dream of flying turned into a lifetime of adventure, curiosity, and passion. As time went on, he enlisted in the Army during the Korean War with hopes of going to flight school, and although that didn’t work out, his passion for the sky remained. Learning everything he could from books, flight time, and other pilots, he eventually got his private pilot license and instrument and seaplane ratings. A longtime member of EAA from Rockford, Illinois, to present day Oshkosh, Wisconsin, his interest in aviation was unwavering. He left no stone unturned reading, watching, learning, studying, flying, building, sharing, and passing on his love of flight. In aviation and through EAA’s continued spirit of innovation and creativity, he found a powerful sense of community with lasting friendships which allowed him to share his passion with family. All of this helped to form their lives through imagination and possibilities, bearing no limits of what can be now and in the future following their own hearts and dreams. As time passed and he no longer piloted his own flights, he continued actively as a member of the Western North Carolina Pilots Association.
As the poem High Flight by John Gillespie Magee Jr. states: “I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark or even eagle flew — And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.”
His motto: No matter how big or small, always remember, dreams do come true!
CHUCK MASON - GLASAIR N28CM
INSPIRED MANY TO FLY
12/15/1928 - 03/05/2025
Chuck Mason was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 15, 1928. He soloed a J-3 Cub in October 1945 after four hours of instruction and earned his private license by working at the Billerica, Massachusetts, airport in exchange for flying time. He went on to get his commercial certificate, instrument rating, and an A&P mechanic certificate. In December of 2005, the FAA honored him with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of accident-free flying and contributions to general aviation. Chuck was president of EAA Chapter 4 in Maryland for three years and chairman of the Aviation Advisory Board in Venice, Florida. He is a charter member of EAA Chapter 1285 and the Venice Aviation Society Incorporated (VASI). He has owned six airplanes — an Ercoupe, a Piper TriPacer, a Cessna 182, a Cessna Skylane, a Glasair that he built, and a new American Champion Citabria which he took his last solo flight in on September 26, 2022. In 77 years of flying he logged almost 6,000 hours.
Chuck served three years in the U.S. Merchant Marine as an Able-Bodied Seaman (AB) sailing on freighters all around the world (WWII veteran status) and graduated from Northeastern University with a B.S. in electrical engineering (EE) in 1954. Chuck worked as a staff engineer at MIT’s Lincoln Lab helping design a large digital computer for the DOD Air Defense System. Next he worked for the FAA where he did design and acceptance testing of VORs. Later as an EE for NASA he put together and managed a fleet of four-engine aircraft equipped to check out the tracking stations of the worldwide Manned Space Flight Network. His NASA engineering career at the Goddard Space Flight Center continued as a project manager testing remote sensing physics experiments on high-flying aircraft (U-2 and modified B-57) from which he retired in 1988.
His hobbies included flying, ham radio, motorcycling, gun collecting, building computers, boating, and photography. Two of the hobbies, motorcycling and photography, resulted in successful hobbybusiness ventures which paid for his college and flying habit. One of Chuck’s six airplanes was a 200mph Glasair sport airplane which he built in his garage and flew for 19 years and more than 320,000 miles around the country. He loved to fly his Citabria up until his 94th birthday when Hurricane Ian took it from him. As an A&P mechanic he loved to repair, modify, install, design, and build mechanical and electrical equipment both in and out of the aviation field.
Chuck and his wife Elsie, a civil engineer, were married for more than 60 years and they met at Northeastern University. They are survived by three children and five grandchildren. Elsie was a docent at the National Air and Space Museum for almost 14 years. They both volunteered at SUN ‘n FUN for almost 20 years. One of their sons, David, continues Chuck’s passion for flying.
Fly to your heart’s content now, CHUCK!
SCOTT “MCFLY” MCDONALD
PILOT, ADVENTURER, FRIEND
04/16/1986 - 11/15/2023
Scott was a true aviator — passionate, fearless, and full of life. With more than 7,000 hours in more than 75 different aircraft, he wasn’t just a pilot — he was a craftsman of the air. Whether ferrying airplanes cross-country, instructing aspiring aviators, or leaping into the wild blue with 100-plus skydives, Scott lived for flight in every form. He raced four times in the Reno Air Race Bi-Plane Silver division, proudly placing third in 2021.
His Oshkosh story began in 2014 and quickly became a cherished part of his life. A proud EAA Lifetime member, he called AirVenture his “home away from home.” Every summer his family eagerly awaited tales of his adventures: ferrying airplanes in, catching rides in warbirds, and riding in twice with the “Plane of the Year.” One year, he planned to camp in a tent but ended up in a luxury RV. Another, he landed a job offer to fly a 747 while wearing sandals. That was Scott — always open to magic, always where the action was. His joy, curiosity, and presence made him a part of Oshkosh as much as any aircraft on the field.
Scott’s love for flying sparked early, slipping the surly bonds of earth in warbirds with family friend Al Schiffer. That passion turned into a profession in 2010 when he earned his private pilot certificate and pursued aviation degrees at Lansing Community College and Siena Heights University. In 2013, he purchased the FBO at Gratiot Community Airport, Alma, Michigan, acquiring Three Point Aviation. Scott served as the airport manager while also flight instructing for Crosswinds Aviation until 2016. There he found his lifelong calling beyond flying, to instruct and impart his love for aviation to others. He never hesitated to help someone pursue their goals, and, in turn, he became an inspiration and role model to many.
Aerobatics lit another fire in Scott. He dove headfirst into this small community in aviation buying his first aerobatic airplane, a Super Decathlon. In 2016 he moved to Las Vegas to fly Extras, thrilling passengers over Red Rock Canyon. He helped establish IAC Chapter 777, earned his air show card, and performed his first air show in Camarillo. Scott never stood still. He was inspired to continually earn new type ratings and transitioned into flying the CJ3 as well as the Falcon 2000 for Thrive Aviation before taking to the sky globally as a 747 cargo pilot with Kalitta Air.
Outside the cockpit, Scott chased life with the same energy: hiking, rock climbing, free diving, offroading in his Jeep, and exploring the world. He had a gift for connection and his enthusiasm was contagious. His stories could fill volumes, and his laughter lingered like contrails in the sky.
Scott leaves behind a legacy not just of flight, but of joy, courage, and kindness. He inspired all who knew him, and those fortunate enough to spend time with him always walked away knowing they had made a new friend. He will be forever missed but never forgotten.
ALBERT “AL” MERSCHDORF
BELOVED MAYOR OF AIR TROY
05/14/1943 - 07/18/2024
Albert “Al” Merschdorf EAA 24965
Al Merschdorf came from humble beginnings as he grew up in the Milwaukee area. He attended Nathan Hale High School and through a mutual friend, was introduced to the love of his life, Sally Jean Styles. Together they shared a life of love, hope, determination, and above all, faith in the Lord. Through the good times and bad, it was a marriage that lasted more than 61 years.
Al was a generous and caring individual that always made sure to go out of his way to help anyone he could. Steadfast in his core values and beliefs, this came naturally for him.
Throughout his life, Al was a man of many hobbies and had a love of everything outdoors. His enthusiasm for hunting, fishing, trapping, or camping was eagerly shared with those he loved. Since childhood, what perhaps brought Al the greatest joy was aviation. In the early ‘80s he pursued this passion by attaining his pilot certificate. Upon this accomplishment, he felt the next logical step was to live in a small “fly-in” community. In the late ‘80s Al and Sally bought their dream property at Air Troy Estates and have resided there ever since. Al was one of the most prolific flyers at Air Troy and would always be one of the first to announce the coming of spring with a low pass in his Cessna 140. A longtime member of EAA, Al had several projects he worked on over the years, including his Fly Baby and Mooney Mite. And, of course, a few others just in case he needed something to do!
Throughout the years Al became a pillar of their community. He and his family developed many endearing relationships with neighbors and extended church family. This is a testament to the man Al was and the impact he had on those around him. Al Merschdorf, you will be missed but certainly not forgotten. We merely say “so long” until we meet again, dear husband, father, grandfather, greatgrandfather, and friend.
Until the day we fly together again our beloved “Mayor,” Your friends and family at Air Troy Estates
MYLES J. MILNER JR.
EAA MEMBER 1961 TO 2024
07/24/1928 - 04/24/2024
Myles Joseph Milner Jr. was born on July 24, 1928, in Breckenridge, Minnesota, to Anne Vollrath and Myles J. Milner Sr. Growing up during the Great Depression, Myles worked summers in his grandparents’ grocery store in St. Paul, as an usher in a theatre, and delivered the Fargo Forum newspaper. Later, he was a baggageman for the Great Northern Railroad, where his father worked as a conductor for 50 years.
After graduating from Breckenridge High School in 1946, he continued his education at the North Dakota Science School, where he studied drafting and estimating. In 1950, he was drafted into the Army. He served as a radio operator in the 7th Division, 17th Infantry and was stationed in Korea during the Korean War. He also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve during the Vietnam era.
After leaving the Army, he continued his education in electronics and radio communications, graduating in 1956. He then began working for AT&T as a craft microwave radio technician. He spent his entire career with AT&T, moving from Fargo to Denver and then to Seattle. He retired in 1988.
On January 24,1963, he married Alayne Isabel Hettervig in Aurora, Colorado. She had moved to Denver to work as a nurse, and Myles followed her. She returned to Minnesota, but eventually he convinced her to move back to Denver and marry him. They had two children, Colleen and Patrick. They loved to travel, especially in their camper, and would plan long trips to see friends, visit historical sites, and attend family and nursing class reunions. They remained together for 56 years until Alayne’s death in 2019.
Myles’ love of flying and building airplanes started young. His heroes were the Wright brothers and Charles Lindbergh. He learned to fly in the 1960s and obtained his private pilot certificate in 1969. He bought the plans for a Lincoln Sport Biplane and worked on it for 40 years. He also owned a Stinson fuselage named Cora Bell he found in a barn. He later sold it to Bunky Larsen, who rebuilt it.
Myles was an enthusiastic member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). He joined in 1961 and was active in the Denver and Seattle chapters. He made the trek almost every year to the fly-in in his camper.
In retirement, Myles continued to pursue his many interests. He worked for McCoy Trains building replica Lionel trains, a job he truly loved. He wrote poetry and short stories. He also published several articles in publications such as Home Shop Machinist
His love for building extended to cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and even steam engines. As a kid, he built toys for his siblings. He and his friend Gus converted a sedan into a convertible. He could repair anything and was always willing to help others. He fixed a lot of neighborhood kids’ bicycles.
Myles died on April 24, 2024, in Kent, Washington, at age 95. He was a loving father, a devoted husband, and an adventurous spirit who cherished every opportunity to travel and create memories with his loved ones.
RONALD JAMES MORRISON
HE TOUCHED THE LIVES OF MANY
10/21/1959 - 02/07/2025
Ronald “Ron” James Morrison, 65, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 7, 2025, after a short but courageous battle with cancer. As a husband, father, brother, and friend, he was known for his unwavering kindness, steadfast faith, and dedication to those he loved. Ron was born on October 21, 1959, in Inglewood, California, to the late William “Bill” James and Shirley Estes Morrison.
Throughout his life, Ron’s passion for aviation was profound — he was a skilled pilot, and flying brought him great joy. Ron was born into an aviation family where he shared his passion for flying antique and vintage aircraft with his father and brother. He and his brother Mark honored their father Bill’s legacy by restoring his 1938 Beechcraft Staggerwing, which had been lost in a tragic fire. Together they have flown the Staggerwing to Oshkosh every year since 1991. Over the years, Ron also shared his love of aviation with his sons William and Matthew who grew up in and around all things aviation.
Ron never missed a year at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, a tradition he cherished deeply. It became more than just an event — it was a family ritual, a celebration of flight, and a bond they shared through their love of the sky. These treasured trips were a reflection of his adventurous spirit and the strong ties that grounded him.
He also had a wonderful career, spending the last 25 years in sales with FedEx, where he was loved by teammates and customers alike. In his professional life, Ron brought the same dedication and warmth to his role at FedEx that he did to every other part of his life — his integrity, easygoing nature, and unwavering commitment made him not just a valued colleague, but a true friend to many.
Ron’s greatest pride, however, was his family. When asked recently by a doctor what the secret to a long and happy marriage is, his answer was simple: “Margaret, just Margaret.” Their unique love story and marriage will always be remembered as a real-life fairy tale. Some of his favorite memories were with his sons, bonding over endless hours of time spent in the hangar on restoration projects.
Ron’s legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched, the skies he soared, and the love he shared.
REV. HARRY MYERS EAA #310696
HIS FAITH INSPIRED SO MANY.
07/30/1933 - 06/13/2015
Harry Edward Myers was born on July 30, 1933, in Glendale, Arizona. His marriage in October 1952 to the love of his life, Dixie, lasted more than 62 years. He and Dixie moved to Willcox, Arizona, in the late 1950s where he started a successful irrigation pump business. Harry had learned to fly in 1955, and he used his airplanes to help extend and support his business operations.
Harry’s Grandma Myers had a significant godly influence in his life and was eternally pleased when he dedicated his life to Jesus Christ in 1963 at the Willcox Church of the Nazarene. His devotion to God steered him to sell his business and attend the Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs. After graduating in 1970 he pastored three Nazarene churches in Andrews and Perryton, Texas, and then back home in Willcox.
Harry loved to hunt and fish, but his greatest passion was flying. He flew for over 60 years while owning a dozen airplanes. He learned to fly in the Aeronca Chief which was also the first airplane he owned. He flew airplanes including the Cub, PT-19, Cruisemaster, Skyhawk, and Skylane. He loved and owned a Luscombe, but his favorite was his Cessna 180. Later in life he had Piper Cherokees. Influenced by the EAA he became involved in experimental aircraft. He refurbished a Rand KR-2 and then built a Bowers Fly Baby. His second Fly Baby was N5540V, which he was actively flying up to his last flight on June 8, 2015, five days before his passing.
One of his greatest joys was to share his love of flying. He was actively engaged as an EAA Young Eagles pilot for years. Over the decades he passed the wonder of flight to family, friends, and others. Harry liked to have fun, joke, and play pranks. His kids and grandkids loved him for it. His charm extended to his enthusiasm for the Peanuts character “pilot” Snoopy. Like Snoopy, he enjoyed the open cockpit of his Fly Baby and dressed the part complete with leather flying cap, goggles, and scarf. When he closed the door to his hangar for the last time, he would have seen the metal sign he had hung that depicted his favorite “flying ace” designating the hangar as Snoopy’s Pilot Lounge.
Harry Myers touched countless lives by sharing his faith, love of family and friends, and a passion for flying. His family is deeply honored to have his memory enshrined at this wonderful chapel beneath the sky where his passion lives on.
ROBERT - BOB - NAGY
1957 - 2025
03/22/1938 - 03/29/2025
Robert “Bob” Nagy had an extensive involvement with aviation. In 1956, he worked with Paul Poberezny on publications at his home in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. That same year, he joined the Air Force Reserves, in which he served eight years.
Bob was the president of EAA Chapter 18 from 1957 to 1958. He was also a member of Chapter 167 in Napa, California, from 1977 to 2000, as well as Chapter 430 in Sequim, Washington, from 2005 to 2025.
Additionally, Bob was an FAA controller in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; an instructor for Japan Airlines (JAL) in Napa, California; and a member of the Quiet Birdmen.
His love of aviation, family, and friends will never be forgotten.
RON OBERHELMAN EAA #784192
CAPTAIN TWA/AMERICAN
03/01/1951 - 02/28/2024
Ronald Bert Oberhelman, affectionately known as “RTP” or “Ron the Pilot,” was a true aviator whose love for the sky left an indelible mark on the aviation community. Born on March 1, 1951, in Lexington, Missouri, Ron surprised his parents, Gilbert and Mildred Oberhelman, later in life and brought immeasurable joy to their family. He grew up on the family farm in Wellington, Missouri, where his intelligence, athleticism, and charisma shone brightly.
After graduating as valedictorian of his high school class in 1969, Ron attended the University of Missouri, earning a degree in agricultural economics. Although destined for the family farm, fate intervened when he took a college job fueling airplanes at Nancy’s Airport, igniting a lifelong passion for aviation.
Ron’s unconventional journey to becoming a pilot took him from flight instructor to captain. He joined TWA in 1979, one of just seven nonmilitary pilots in his class, and flew for Air Midwest, TWA, and American Airlines, retiring in 2016. Despite his career’s global reach, Ron always proudly identified as a TWA pilot, cherishing the camaraderie and legacy of the airline.
Beyond the cockpit, Ron was a devoted family man. He married Melinda Sears in 1974, and together they had a daughter, Katie. After Melinda’s passing in 1990, Ron became a loving single parent, creating a bond with Katie that time cannot break. Later, he found love again with Camilla Crist, whom he married in 2014. His granddaughters, Melinda, Harper, and Lena, were the light of his life, and he shared his passions for flying, skiing, and the Missouri Tigers with them.
Even in retirement, Ron remained a fixture in the aviation world, frequenting Oshkosh each summer in his beloved “Tiger 1.” His humor, generosity, and zest for life were legendary — whether he was cheering for Mizzou in black and gold, organizing a spontaneous fish fry, or sharing stories at the coffee shop.
Ron felt closest to God while fishing, and his life reflected that same sense of peace and purpose. Through his final act of organ donation, Ron gave others the gift of life, a fitting legacy for a man whose generosity knew no bounds.
Ron’s charm, kindness, and love for flying will be celebrated at EAA AirVenture 2025, where his contributions to aviation and his remarkable life will be honored.
RICHARD L. PACKER EAA #43817
PAST GRAND CHAMPION. N9856H
08/01/1943 - 08/20/2024
Richard Lee Packer, 81, of Radnor, Ohio, passed away August 20, 2024, at Dublin Methodist Hospital. Richard became an EAA member in 1968. He built a Bowers Fly Baby and restored several Stearmans, one of which was the 1986 Vintage Grand Champion. He gave more than 100 Young Eagles rides in his Beech 18 and served as an officer for the Mid-Eastern Regional Fly-In for many years.
An aviation professional and known by many simply as “Packer” and the owner of Packer & Associates Inc., he received the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award and the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award in 2020. Those who receive it stand out in the aviation world for their sustained excellence. The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is the most prestigious award the FAA issues to pilots. It is named after the Wright brothers, to recognize individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while flying aircraft as “master pilots.”
The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics and is named in honor of the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. Master Mechanic Award candidates must have 50 or more years of civil and military maintenance experience.
Packer accumulated more than 10,000 hours logged in single and multiengine aircraft, agricultural, turbine, and aerobatic aircraft. He received his airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate with inspection authorization in 1975 and was still an active flight instructor and aircraft inspector. He received his property and casualty insurance license in 1981 and formed Packer & Associates as an independent insurance agency that year.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife and co-pilot in life, Linda Sue; son, Rich (Janice) Packer; daughter, Renee Sue (Timothy) Calvin; grandchildren, Carl Calvin and Sara Calvin; brother, David (Maxine) Packer of Mt. Gilead; sister, Betty (Ron) Kunze of Sun City Center, Florida; sister-in-law, Linda Packer; brother-in-law, Norman Abraham; and nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Packer was also preceded in death by his brother Larry G. Packer Sr. and his sister Ruth Abraham.
JOHN F. PEACOCK, EAA 95263
BUILDER OF MUSTANG II N47JP
09/19/1948 - 10/25/2023
John F. Peacock, EAA 95263, age 75, of San Benito, Texas, and formerly of Cedar Falls, Iowa, flew west on October 25, 2023. He was born September 19, 1948, in Newport, Arkansas. He graduated from Arkansas State University in 1977 with a bachelor’s in agricultural engineering and immediately went to work for the John Deere Company in Waterloo, Iowa, retiring after 30 years with them. An avid airplane enthusiast from an early age, John learned to fly in a Piper Cub and received his pilot certificate the day he graduated high school. He was a 40-year member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and of local EAA Chapters 227 in Waterloo, Iowa, and Chapter 595 in La Feria, Texas. He built and flew his cherished Mustang II, as well as his Piper Cub, Cessna 140, and Fly Baby. He volunteered at AirVenture for more than 30 years, serving as a tram driver, working in the Weeks Hangar, and in the welding workshop of the Builders Education Center. He amassed 1,840 volunteer hours since 2014, and at least that many in prior years. John’s love for EAA and aviation live on in the fond memories of his family and friends.
JACK POPPENHAGER
“POPPY”
02/23/1933 - 11/19/2023
Jack “Poppy” Poppenhager, 90, of Canton, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, November 19, 2023, at Graham Hospital in Canton. He was born on February 23, 1933, in Summum, Illinois, to Wayne and Wanda (Howard) Poppenhager.
He married Joan Derry on February 4, 1951, in Palmyra, Missouri. She survives.
Also surviving are his nieces and nephews including Lyn Pedigo, Amy (Tom) Ingles, Jim (Trina) Poppenhager, and several great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Roger Poppenhager.
Jack served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and in 2021 received an Official Proclamation for being an Ambassador for Peace. He later worked for International Harvester Company in Canton, retiring in 1983. He was the oldest person ever to go through the IH apprenticeship at age 39.
He enjoyed flying and worked as a commercial pilot and as a private flight instructor. He was a founding member of the International Cessna 120-140 Association and was the first elected president.
He also was an auxiliary police officer for the Canton Police Department and was awarded Canton Police Department Auxiliary Officer of the Year for 2010, 2014, and 2016.
MICHAEL ELMER PYZDROWSKI
HOV’RING IN SUNLIT SILENCE
12/02/1951 - 05/17/2014
Michael (Mike) Elmer Pyzdrowski, 12/2/1951–5/17/2024, of Chaska, Minnesota. Mike was born in Bend, Oregon, and moved to Minnetonka Village, Minnesota, in 1959. He attended Saint Joseph’s Catholic grade school, Hopkins; Benilde High School, Saint Louis Park; the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul; and is a graduate of Parks College of Engineering, Aviation & Technology, a branch of Saint Louis University, Missouri, with a degree in aircraft maintenance engineering.
Growing up, Mike was an avid aviation enthusiast, soloing as a teenager and obtaining his private pilot certificate. His affinity for aviation led to his being a “Plank Owner” of the Planes of Fame Air Museum, originally operating at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Then, in dedication to World War II veterans, Mike served as the archiver/researcher for the USS Gambier Bay/VC-10 Association, working to preserve the memory of his father’s shipmates of the aircraft carrier USS Gambier Bay and carry on the memories of those lost in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. His love of aviation was best evidenced in his annual pilgrimages to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the Experimental Aircraft Association air show where he was known to sleep under the airplane wings of his fellow pilots, and, during his most recent visits, reminisce with members of the Tuskegee Airmen Red Tails and Women’s Air Force Service Pilots at the Jesuit Retreat House. To Mike, it was aviation heaven. Mike took two of his nephews to Oshkosh on occasion, and they subsequently attended the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Air Force Academy, becoming aviators.
Mike’s professional engineering career began at McDonnell Douglas (1975-1979) where he worked on the F-15 Eagle aircraft. He then transitioned to Sacred Design Associates as vice president of operations (1979-1997), and then to Eaton/Danfoss (1997-2024) where he performed as an electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical power specialist.
Mike devoted his life to his family and faith, instilling an appreciation for life and a strong work ethic. A born storyteller, Mike had a memory for detail and could weave his recollections into a chronicle, folklore, or epic depending on the topic and audience. He will be forever known for his openness, analytical mind, encouragement of others, and pragmatism.
Mike fostered a sense of wonder, service, and inquisitiveness in his children, nieces, and nephews; shared his mechanical and engineering gifts with them; and encouraged them to pursue their dreams through stories about his interests and passions. Mike had an eye for greatness, so if you know him, rest assured he will watch over you as you fulfill your life’s destiny. Mike is gone from our sight, but not from our hearts. Godspeed, our archangel!
CAPTAIN JUDY RICE
“BORN WITH WINGS”
01/17/1953 - 04/19/2024
Judy Rice built partnerships across the world to help make a difference in the aerospace industry workforce and the education of students interested in technical fields. She was founder and captain of ThinkGlobalFlight, an around-the-world flight of adventure promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and inspiring students at each step in her journey.
Throughout her life, Judy had a passion for aviation and space technology. This passion, coupled with 16 years as a teacher, eventually brought her into the field of aerospace education. She valued the experience gained as a special education specialist because it gave her a broad knowledge of the learning process.
She held the title as president of the National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education, an organization which represents government, industry, and labor; united to promote aviation and space education activities and resources; increase public understanding of aviation and aerospace educators; and support educational initiatives at the local, state, and national levels.
Her position with Laminar Research, makers of the X-Plane flight simulator provided the technological understanding necessary in today’s global society. Judy’s tenure with the Civil Air Patrol as the deputy director of aerospace education and with the Experimental Aircraft Association as the executive director of youth education involved a wide variety of skills, including collaborations with various national aerospace education organizations and coordinating KidVenture as part of the largest air show event in the, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
The National 4-H Aerospace Curriculum Project hired her to produce a series of publications that eventually involved 35 businesses and thousands of precollege 4-H members. During the project, Judy learned to fly and became an instrument rated commercial, multi-engine, Citation type-rated pilot, advance ground instructor, certified flight instructor, and logged thousands of hours in numerous aircraft. Captain Judy holds the world absolute NAA Speed Over a Recognized Course Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, to Reykjavik, Iceland, and the FAI Circumnavigator Certificate.
Judy finished her storied career at Epic Flight Academy in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Flying and sharing the experience of flight with others is what motivated Judy each day. “I brought my world flight experience and knowledge as a flight instructor to each new student,” said Judy. Most students were not much older than 20, and for many, the first time away from home. “I was their first contact,” said Judy, “And many times also became mom.”
Seeing a student’s eyes light up as they understood a concept or gained confidence and watching them grow as a person and as a pilot was gratifying for Judy. No matter where in the world a student pilot may be from, Judy believed we all share the passion of the air. “Even in the harshest countries, aviation is an international shared joy.”
JAY RIDDLE
LIVED THE AMERICAN DREAM
06/13/1953 - 06/21/2024
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1953, Jay Riddle’s early childhood fascination with the principles of flight led him to an interest in building remote-controlled airplanes, something that would ignite in him a passion for working with his hands, a desire to understand engineering principles, and also nurtured his creativity in building things from scratch. As a young man, Jay started a family after marrying his childhood sweetheart Barbara, who would not only be the love of his life, but would support him through as well as be a key part of the success of his many ventures in life. Jay’s working career was always revolved around manufacturing. His aptitude for skilled machining and high quality and precision workmanship yielded various opportunities for him as his career grew. It was also during this time that Jay further pursued his love of flying by getting his pilot certificate and eventually owning his own private airplane. He eventually went into the injection molding trade, becoming a skilled mold maker. It was in this trade that he would form a key relationship with his employer Dee Howard. Many may know Dee from his legendary accomplishments in the area of aerospace innovations. This relationship was a key point in Jay making the decision to pursue his own success in business. Jay left the stability of a regular paycheck and opted to pursue his dream of owning his own injection mold manufacturing company. Dee was extremely supportive and some of the early work that formed the basis of the new company’s success was from molds Jay built for plastic components for Dee’s company. With the rise of the tech boom in California in the 1980s, Jay saw more opportunity in California, and he moved the family and business endeavors out west. There he found great success with a rapid mold building concept he developed that was unique to the industry at that time. Always one to think outside the box, he also invented numerous types of products in various industries during this time.
In later years he sold the business and returned to his early love of model building, enjoying flying his remote-controlled airplanes at his local RC club airfield, at one point acting as president of the club with many other retired pilots as his friends. He would light up like a little kid when attending EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh.
Jay truly lived the American dream; from just humble beginnings, Jay’s natural giftedness in the areas of mechanical ability and fascination with engineering and aviation not only led him to success in the business world, but in the end positively affected the world with his unique inventions. As a father, friend, business owner, and family member he wore many hats but will be most remembered for his thoughtfulness, great sense of humor, kind giving heart, Southern charm, and loving ways. He had a brilliant mind that could design and build anything from scratch. Jay loved his wife and family immensely and was always proud of them. He will be greatly missed.
ERIC SCHLANSER 1947 - 2024
HIGH IN THE SUNLIT SILENCE
03/11/1947 - 04/14/2024
Eric Christian Schlanser, beloved husband, father, grandfather, builder, pilot, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2024, at the age of 77 in Portland, Oregon. Born on March 11, 1947, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Eric led a life filled with dedication, service, and passion.
Eric found joy in his family, his pets, and the sky. Eric first learned to fly while on active duty at White Sands Missile Range in the mid ‘70s. For years, he would take his family on trips to visit relatives or vacation, flying across Michigan and across the country. He began building his own Wittman Tailwind in the late ‘90s, and the project would consume him for almost 20 years. His annual pilgrimage to Baraboo and Oshkosh was something he planned months in advance, where he could talk aviation and aircraft with like-minded friends from around the country.
When he wasn’t flying, Eric graduated from The Ohio State University, where he pursued his passion for both zoology/animal biology and dentistry. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree, Eric was deeply involved in campus life, exemplified by his role as the social chairman in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
After completing his education, Eric embarked on a career in dentistry, serving as a general dentist and supervisor at the Battle Creek and Grand Rapids VA Centers. Throughout his 30-year tenure, Eric’s professionalism, expertise, and compassionate care positively impacted the lives of countless patients and colleagues. As a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, Eric also dedicated his skills as a base dental surgeon at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Michigan, further demonstrating his unwavering commitment to his country and community.
Eric leaves behind a legacy of love. He is survived by his wife, Diane Schlanser; daughters Jenny (Jeremy) and Jill (Chris); siblings Susan, Jack, and Amy; beloved grandchildren Nathaniel, Jack, Phoebe, and Luna; and his devoted cat Ravi. He was preceded in death by his faithful canine companion Loki.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Eric’s memory can be made to Airway Science for Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to providing aviation opportunities to youth of color and those from low-income families in the Oregon area, or EAA Young Eagles, providing youth across the nation with their first flights in a general aviation aircraft.
Eric Christian Schlanser will be deeply missed but fondly remembered for his kindness and unwavering dedication to his family. May his spirit continue to soar amongst the clouds, forever guiding and inspiring those who had the privilege of knowing him.
RICHARD W SCHMIDT, JR
ANYTHING GOES
12/16/1950 - 11/01/2024
Richard William Schmidt Jr., 73, passed away Friday, November 1, 2024, in West Terre Haute, Indiana. He was born on December 16, 1950, in Tipton, Indiana, to Richard William Schmidt and Clotilde Concannon Schmidt.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Kathleen Schmidt; daughters Kelly Schmidt (Robert Roth), Shannon Croisetiere (Jeff), and Megan Schmidt (Andrew Wells); grandchildren Kevin Schmidt (Lila), Lillian Croisetiere, Mollie Croisetiere, and Flynn Wells; several great-grandchildren; siblings Dr. Thomas C. Schmidt, Pat Schmidt (Carol), Dr. Mary R. Schmidt, Jeffrey C. Schmidt (Anne), and Dr. Jeanne Schmidt (Dan McFarland); and 12 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Joe Schmidt and Dr. Shawn Schmidt.
Richard was an electrical engineer contractor that supported the United States military and included a long stint at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., for 19 years. He ended his career as an entrepreneur with a focus on renewable energy, one of his several passions in life. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida and a master’s degree at Florida Institute of Technology. He enjoyed taking care of his family, continuing and promoting higher education, watching sports of all kinds (particularly Nebraska football, “Go Big Red”) and soccer (Go Tampa Bay Rowdies, “the Rowdies are here, the Rowdies are there, they kick the ball around. The Rowdies are here, the Rowdies are there and then they fall on the ground…oh the Rowdies”), coaching girls soccer with a focus of developing players leaving a lasting impact on those that played for him “#Never Give Up”, biggest fan of his own daughters’ sport activities, watching movies (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Indiana Jones, and the James Bond franchise), riding his bike, listening to music loudly in the car (AC/DC, Rolling Stones, B-52’s), love of airplanes (Oshkosh air shows), passion for the environment and climate change, solar energy, talking about and attending Space Camp, wearing New Balance shoes, using Windex (the cure for all things), and being back home in “the Concannon/Schmidt Homestead.” He had many passions in life, and, if you spoke to him, you felt the passion as well.
“May the long time sun shine upon you.” - written by Mike Heron of the Incredible String Band.
LEWIS WILLIAM SHAW II
INSTRUCTOR•MENTOR•BENEFACTOR
02/13/1943 - 03/05/2025
Lewis W. Shaw II, founder and chairman of Jackson Shaw, died on March 5, 2025. A highly honored business leader, entrepreneur, patriot, and mentor, he was a man of large personality and varied interests. He was not your average real estate man. Deep down Lewis was a teacher and often quoted, “When one teaches, two learn.” After graduating from Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, he spent seven years in the U.S. Air Force. His experience as an instructor in T-38s fueled his lifelong passion for airplanes and aviation. He flew aerobatic contests on the side in what he referred to as “a little junky airplane — my car cost $75 but the plane was a little more expensive.” Joining IBM in Dallas, he took a 90-day sales training course and entered the typewriter sales world where he met Janet Spencer, his future wife. He also met a lot of real estate people. Among them was Jim Jackson who shared his interest in airplanes. Jackson recognized Lewis’ entrepreneurial skills and his nose for business. In 1974 Lewis joined J.C. Jackson Company as a construction manager and leasing agent. Following the death of Mr. Jackson he purchased the company, growing the operations from a small local contractor and brokerage operation to build-tosuit and speculative developments on a national level. Jackson Shaw has been responsible for the construction or development of more than 63 million square feet of commercial space representing a value of more than $2.5 billion.
Lewis and Janet traveled the world on airplanes, trains, ships, and motorcycles and built beautiful homes in Dallas and Colorado. Preserving, protecting, and perpetuating the western ranching heritage was important to Lewis. He had a strong interest in beautiful and innovative architecture and graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Lewis also cofounded American General Hospitality, Inc., in 1980. The company merged with Meristar and Interstate Hotels and Resorts. Lewis continued hospitality activities with hotel developments and investments in Las Vegas, Fort Worth, and Phoenix. He was inducted into the North Texas Commercial Area Realtors Hall of Fame in 2003. He served on the Whittenberg University Board of Directors and was active in numerous local civic and national organizations. His love of aviation never waned. He enthusiastically taught many to fly over the years. He flew in air shows and competition aerobatics and amassed an airplane collection including an Acrostar, P-51s, Midget Mustangs, Pinto Jets, Soko Galebs, an Extra, a Waco cabin biplane, and an amphibian Husky. He was a lifetime member of EAA, a Quiet Birdman, and a friend of the Red Bull Aerobatic Team.
CAPT ALVIN SIMONEAUX F-4 WSO
PROUD AIR ACADEMY GRADS’ DAD
03/27/1949 - 11/13/2024
Alvin Charles Simoneaux (aka Big Al, Bulldog, Fighter Gator, Ragin’ Cajun, Owl, Sim, Papa Bear, Grandpaw, and the Risotto King) passed peacefully at home in Green Valley, Arizona, on November 13, 2024, in the arms of his family while friends gathered to celebrate this good man and his full and accomplished life.
Al was born in Franklin, Louisiana, on March 27, 1949, to Clifford Joseph Simoneaux and Dorothy Lea Sandifer Simoneaux. He played football and volunteered as a fireman in high school, then attended LSU and USL, where he joined Air Force ROTC and earned his degree in business administration. He was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1971 and became a weapon systems officer in the F-4 Phantom fighter jet. He flew with the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron from 1973 to 1974 in Udorn, Thailand, where he had a lot of close calls, pulled a lot of g’s, earned an Air Medal, and was a caretaker to their mascot, Eldridge the black spotted jaguar. He flew with the 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron from 1973 to 1974 in Bentwaters, England, where he was entrusted with nuclear weapons, explored Europe, and earned the rank of captain. When Al returned to the States, he found work in the oil industry, then spent several years as an insurance underwriter. Most of his working years were spent operating heavy equipment in hazardous waste remediation and in a copper mine.
He met the love of his life, Robin Gale Scagliola, while she was teaching in Louisiana, and they married in 1977. They had a daughter, Megan Lee, four years later and moved the family to the wild, wild, west in Tucson, Arizona, soon after. They sent 15-year-old Megan to Oshkosh to attend EAA’s Air Academy, and that proved to be a huge influence on all of their lives. Megan went on to become an intern, take flight lessons, and eventually become a flight instructor for the Air Academy programs. Al and Robin enjoyed visiting AirVenture several times over the years. In 2017, Al walked his daughter down the aisle to wed another Air Academy ‘96 alum, Andrew Thomas Powers. The wedding was held here at Fergus Chapel, and the reception was held in the Air Academy Lodge. He danced so much that night that he was sore the next day.
Throughout his life, Al embraced the simple joys. He appreciated good food, good weather, good company, and a good life. He enjoyed just being around good people, and people enjoyed being around him. He loved spending time with his wife, flying, being outdoors, walking the dogs, four-wheeling through the desert, eating a good crawfish boil, visiting his quiet cabin in Lakeside, and supporting his daughter’s education and adventures.
Godspeed, Al. You were a tough-as-nails man who laughed with your whole body and loved with your whole heart. We hope you enjoy the blue skies of heaven while you wait for us.
DONALD G. TAYLOR CHAPTER 613
1803 YOUNG EAGLES FLIGHTS
04/06/1927 - 09/13/2021
Donald Taylor was born on April 6, 1927, and he was a man who lived a life devoted to his family, his country, and his passion for aviation. After serving in the Naval Seabees during World War II, Don began his journey as a pilot in 1949. His unwavering commitment to flight was acknowledged when he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol. Don’s annual pilgrimage to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh was a testament to his enduring love for aviation. In his later years, he found solace in constructing model airplanes and expanding his knowledge through reading. Don’s proudest accomplishment, shared with his beloved brother Earl, was the construction of the EAA Chapter 613 hangar, now recognized as the Taylor Aviaton Center. Donald passed away peacefully on September 13, 2021, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire young aviators. Don Taylor flew more than 1,800 Young Eagles and in 2011 achieved EAA’s Major Achievement Award for his hard work and dedication to the Young Eagles program. EAA Chapter 613 in Swanton, Vermont, (KFSO) a gold chapter, will never forget this great man, educator, and instrumental role model in Vermont’s aviation community.
EARL R TAYLOR CHAPTER 613
TRUE BROTHER AND FRIEND
04/06/1927 - 06/05/2023
Earl R. Taylor, born on April 6, 1927, embarked on a military career that began with the Vermont militia, followed by distinguished service as a veteran in World War II and the Naval Seabees for an impressive 36 years. Earl’s dedication earned him the esteemed rank of Chief, the highest position for a noncommissioned officer. Alongside his brother Donald, Earl was a key contributor to the construction of EAA Chapter 613, known as the Taylor Aviation Center, a testament to their shared passion for aviation. Earl was always there for his twin brother Donald. Often you would find him on his John Deere tractor mowing the grass at the Aviation Center or meeting you at the door welcoming you to our monthly pancake breakfast. Earl was known as the man with the best eggs and bacon in town. Earl’s encampments extend beyond the military, as he was also involved in various endeavors such as building houses on Taylor Drive, operating a family Dairy Bar, and owning and operating Taylor Marine. He was also known for his love of the Boston Red Sox and never missed a game. Earl passed away in 2023, leaving behind cherished memories among a wide network of friends and loved ones. He is truly missed by all of us at Chapter 613.
CHARLES VICAR WAKEFIELD
521ST ARMY AVIATION CO. 1953
06/03/1934 - 01/25/2024
Charles was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, on June 3, 1934. He is preceded in death by his parents James and Harriet and siblings Nellie, James, Gwendolyn, and Ruby. He is survived by his wife Janet of 63 years and children Charles, Scott (Christine), Robert, and Gwendolyn Hickey (David). He also is survived by four grandchildren, Mark (Katie), Sarah, Elizabeth, and Parker, He has one great-grandson, Wyatt. He served three years in the U.S. Army’s 521st Engineering Company stationed at Crissy Field in the Presidio of San Francisco and was transported by the U.S. Navy to map the Alaskan Territory. He served as an Army machinist, making any equipment needed to keep the observation and mapping Hiller OH- 23 helicopters in the air.
After the Army, he earned a college degree in education from Kean College in New Jersey. He began his career at Somerset County Vo-Tech in New Jersey teaching high school children the machine shop trade. He moved his family to Arizona in 1983 and worked as a Professor at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, teaching machine tool technology and later at Gateway Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, teaching CNC machining. He also worked as an inspector at Allied Signal Aerospace (Honeywell). He learned to fly under the Army GI Bill and soloed in a Piper Vagabond. He loved aviation and regularly attended the EAA fly-in conventions in the 1970s and ‘80s as a member. As a pilot in command, he accumulated more than 1,000 hours. He flew many different aircraft, but his roots were always in the vintage category which included the Aeronca Champion, Chief, the Ercoupe, Cessna 140, straight tail 150, and 172. He loved flying out of grass strips in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. Flying was just one of his passions; watching sports and horse racing were the others. He taught his children the meaning of hard work, honor, and respect. He valued education and followed the word of God. Charles is still soaring through the clouds, only now with angel wings. Rest in peace.
ANITA MASON WARD MSN, RN
APR 29, 1951 - JAN 14, 2024
04/29/1951 - 01/14/2024
Anita Faye Mason Ward, MSN, RN EAA 1266717 April 29, 1951 - January 14, 2024
Anita was born and raised in Shubuta, Mississippi. She was the fourth of five children; her siblings were all brothers. She is the mother to three children, Monica Garrison (Fountain, Colorado), Therese Thurman (Midland City, Alabama), and Samuel “Bubba” Frichter (Enterprise, Alabama). She is also the grandmother to three grandsons.
Her professional career was in healthcare. She graduated from Wallace College with an associate degree in nursing, and is listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Her love of education led her to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Memphis Loewenberg School of Nursing.
Her nursing career was multifaceted. A significant piece was her tenure with Hays Modification Center, Dothan, Alabama. She was, among other responsibilities, the director of plant safety. It was during this time that she developed her love of aviation and earned her private pilot certificate through Civil Air Patrol. She also learned of EAA while at Hays. It was during her tenure that EAA purchased a B-17 that would become known as Aluminum Overcast. Hays performed the initial restoration, and Anita photo documented much of the process. Her logbook shows that she was second in command on three flights. Her prized photo album will be donated to the EAA Aviation Museum in her memory.
She was a woman ahead of her time. In 1996, on AOL, she met a fledgling pilot with Federal Express Corporation that was flying the Boeing 727. Hays performed many of the 727 passenger to freighter conversions for Federal Express. Her relationship with this pilot flourished, and they married on November 6, 1999.
She loved to travel. As a child she traveled vicariously through reading books. After settling into married life, she and her husband traveled extensively. In 2018 she convinced her husband that they needed to purchase a motorhome. After a long cross-country adventure, she was asked where she wanted to go next. Without hesitation she replied, “Oshkosh!” Teasing her, he asked why. She replied for AirVenture! It was during this trip that they learned about volunteerism and were led to Vintage Aircraft Association (VAA). She found her niche in the VAA volunteer registration booth by the Red Barn. All summer RV trips were planned around AirVenture, and her last was 2023. She made many wonderful friends and acquaintances with VAA that are treasured to this day.
She is survived by her husband Forrest C. “Chuck” Ward Jr.; children Monica Garrison, Therese Thurman (Bo), and Samuel “Bubba” Frichter (Shelby); and three grandsons Torin, Beau, and Brady; and three of her brothers.
SUE WOLBER LOVED LAUGHING, LOVED
LIFE, AND LOVED FLYING
05/11/1964 - 11/23/2024
Susan Germaine Wolber, age 60, died on November 23, 2024, while flying a training mission for the Civil Air Patrol in Larimer County, Colorado.
Sue landed in Dearborn, Michigan, on May 11, 1964, the youngest of Marge and Joe’s five children. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Michigan State University and worked as an engineer for the instrument division of Hewlett-Packard and its spin-offs for over 35 years.
After a blind date with Robert William Proulx in 1987, Bob and Sue realized they completed each other in many positive ways. They were known as Bob-and-Sue, or Sue-and-Bob, almost always mentioned with each other. Following a brief, whirlwind engagement of 20 years, they married on April 1, 2012, and were inseparable for 37 years.
Sue was a passionate pilot who joined the Civil Air Patrol in 1993. Sue logged over 5,000 flying hours with 30 years teaching all aspects of flight including search and rescue plus orientation flights for CAP Cadets and ROTC Cadets. Sue was a member of several aviation organizations including the Experimental Aircraft Association, flew hundreds of Young Eagles flights, FNL IMC Club, Fort CollinsLoveland Pilots Association, Angel Flight, Light Hawk, FAA Safety Team Representative, Colorado Pilots Association, and Colorado CAP Foundation. In her decades of volunteer work she taught, mentored, encouraged, and served as a positive example to countless people, especially girls and young women.
The Wolber-Proulx house, jammed with sports gear, is a testament to how often Sue embraced new hobbies, including scuba, skiing, hang gliding, snow shoeing, mountain hiking, motorcycling, Renaissance Fair cosplay, snow caving, ballet, and much bicycling, always with Bob along as her metaphorical co-pilot. Beyond her passion for flying, Sue also loved to travel, especially enjoying long bicycle tours. Sue dragged Bob kicking and complaining to places as diverse as North Dakota, Alaska, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Croatia, New Zealand, and other far lands.
Sue loved Oshkosh, where she and Bob camped under their airplane’s wing and volunteered as groundpounders amid the organized chaos in the Vintage area. With Bob, she led aircraft to parking slots, explained safety procedures, and reanimated any pilot still catatonic from the terrifying exhilaration of landing at the world’s busiest airport. After playing aircraft marshal, welcome wagon, and post-trauma therapist for the surge of arrivals, Sue would relax and savor the aviation overload that is AirVenture. At Oshkosh, Sue found her own version of heaven, sharing her endless love of flying with others.
Sue gave of herself constantly. Any time a friend needed help, she was quick to volunteer her precious free time, providing whatever they required. She was truly a pillar of the community and will be sorely missed.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF CARLOS
CARLOS JOSEPH WOLF 2003-2025
02/17/2003 - 03/18/2025
Carlos J. Wolf, an aviation enthusiast, is the son of Carl R. Wolf, Jr., a longtime pilot and avionics marketer. The only school Carlos ever loved was ground school, and he was close to soloing before he passed. Carlos was proud to work for Garmin International, like his father. One of the highlights of Carlos’s life was attending EAA AirVenture with Carl and his sister, Natalie.
