It is with heavy hearts that we share our recent news. My oldest brother David was in a helicopter accident off the coast of Alaska last Friday that took his life. Our hearts are broken.
He was one of my biggest heroes. Growing up I never looked up to sports figures or celebrities, I looked up to him. I am 8 years younger than Dave and loved tagging along wherever he would let me. In Junior High he gave me a job working for him on his fishing boat, and I continued that for 12 summers up into married life. I remember sitting for hours in-between fishing listening to him play guitar and sing. I loved it.
He gave me my first commercial flying job working for him at Gulkana Air Service flying sight seeing tours and hundreds of hours of other flights. Next to my dad, he was my flying mentor. He taught me more than I can ever express about flying, work ethic, vision and love.
He was the best man at my wedding and sang one of his songs as part of the wedding. He will always be my Best Man.
Dave will be greatly missed by so many. Please keep our family in your prayers as well as the other family involved. There are still 2 missing and one recovering from serious injuries.
We are in Alaska now with family. The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, October 9th. We are not sure when we will return to the east coast to continue our travels around visiting all of you, but we will let you know as soon as we can.
In His Service,
Joel, LaReina, Renee and Ian
