Basejumper.com - archive

Eric Wagar. See Blinc.

we never met, RIP

My sympathies and prayers go out to Erich's family. If there's anything any of us can do, just pass the word.

I hung out with Erich this year on the KL trip and also at the Go Fast Games, although we knew of each other after spending many years at the Couch Freaks Dollar Daze boogie. I fondly remember discussing fatherhood with Erich over a drink or two in a bar in KL. He was telling me how great fatherhood is and all that I had to look forward too (as my 1st son was born in June). The passion he had when he spoke of his family was great - even greater then his passion for jumping. Eric was known by many and he touched each one's life in some way.

Erich, you will be missed. Blue Skies my friend.

erich or Admiral was a good friend and will always be remebered. his passion for life, skydiving, base jumping,
his friends, and his family and mostly his son max where untouched. He always made everyone around him happier
than he was and if he wasn't happy he still had a smile on his face. you will be missed by many Admiral and never
forgotten. blue skies
David Quist
DQ
Delta Quebec

Here is the Report that came in just so people don’t wonder and start rumors on what happened. Eric will be missed by many he was a great friend.

Man killed in parachute jump from radio tower
Updated: 11/18/2004 10:08:44 AM

TOWNSHIP OF SOMERSET, Wis. (AP) - A Minnesota man has died while
parachuting from a radio tower in western Wisconsin.

St. Croix County Sheriff Dennis Hillstead said Erich Wagar, 32, may not
have known how close he was getting to the ground after jumping because
it was foggy.

Hillstead said the Brooklyn Park man and a friend from Hutchinson were
jumping from a radio tower Wednesday afternoon.

The sheriff said the two jumped from about 940 feet. Wagar's parachute
opened, but not in time to slow his impact into a hill.

Another person jumped shortly after Wagar, but was not injured.

Hillstead said the two men were experienced "free fallers" --
individuals who parachute, not from a plane, but from fixed objects such
as tall buildings, cliffs or towers.

Chris Jensen

edit to remove names by request of local jumpers ~TA

I'm going to miss you Erich.
Life is so precious!
I am so lucky to have you for a friend and you will forever be in my memories and heart. You were a great friend who always was happy, and you sent that good energy to everyone that was around you.
I send my very deepest condolences to your family, Especially your wife and lil' Max man.
See you again some day, until then.
Scooter....
"aka"
Sergeant Sunshine

This is a really sad day for all of us at Baldwin, Hutchinson and everywhere else where Eric had shown his smiley face. You can see the tower from my window at home, I am going by later to lay down some flowers. Gretchen and Max, my thoughts are with you. Eric was an excellent Dad, Husband and friend of many.

He was doing something he really had a passion for

Rest in Peace Babe

Debs
xxxx

Wow,
The reaper is swinging like crazy these days. Erich was such a cool person. Always a smile. One time he came to the shop and just kept giving me pictures that he had taken and had printed. A generous soul who will be missed. Marta and I will light a candle and remember great times. Love to his family and friends.
Jimmy P

Erich was such an inspiration to all and will be missed by so many. Blue skies to you Erich!!

Blue Skies Erich, we'll all miss you.

A sad day.

BSBD. My condolances to the friends and family.

take care,
Chris

Eric,

You have a big heart & will be missed. Fly Free.

N & J (& C)

It seemed like he lived life more fully than most of us are capable. Everyone that knew him will miss him... more than these inadequate words can express.

Gretchen, Max... be well.
Mark

Hi folks,
His wife is an online friend of mine, and the mama forum we both belong to is taking up a collection to help the family. You can email me at sarae@omino.com if you are interested in helping out.
Thanks. :(

Can you provide a link to any discussion on that forum that might give information about where to send donations?

Thanks!

Tragic big bummer.
Erich was one of the good guys.
RIP

Erich was a super guy - always had a smile for 'ya. My heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to Max and Gretchen, and all those whose lives he touched. He will be missed. Blue skies, my friend.
CJ

Erich always looked for edge. It gave him; an intensity in how much he loved his son, a drive to learn so many aspects of the sport; a commitment to the quality of his life. He really was a pleasure to be around and a decent man also. I've a picture he took on my computer as my background/wallpaper, one of my favorites - every jump, regardless of how good or bad it went he treated as magic time. It's quite a loss for so many of us.

Blue Skies

Here is a copy of the message sent out today by Rose of Skydive Hutchinson with the information on services for Erich.


Greetings, all -

As I'm sure most of you are aware, Erich Wagar passed away on 11/17/04, during a base jump from a tower in Somerset, WI. Friends and family have asked that I send a general e mail to let you all know the memorial arrangements. Please, keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.

Services will be held on Sat., 11/20 at: The Cremation Society, 7110 France Ave., Edina, MN. Visitation is at 1 pm, Service at 2 pm, Reception to follow.

The Erich Wagar Memorial Fund has been set up at the Wells Fargo Bank, 8041 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Park, MN 55445. There will also be a box for cards and donations at the service.

Take good care -

Rose

Hello everyone,

I already posted the details over on Blinc about Erich's death. I do have some information about where donations can be sent for his wife Gretchen and his son Max.

Please send donations to:

Erich Wagar Memorial Fund
Wells Fargo
8041 Brooklyn Blvd.
Brooklyn Park, MN 55445

Tel: (763) 493-1230

Bank contact: Tadi Tafesse

Thank you everyone.

Eric Lunder

From all of us at Skydive Hutchinson,

Erich, you are a free spirit, as only you could be, Envied by those who could not be as free as thee...
You showed us the world as only you could see,
And I will always remember the smiles you had for me..

Thank you for being a part of all of our lives,
Love and Peace Out,
K+M

This is a clip from the local news. Nicely done.
http://www.wcco.com/topvideo/

I knew Eric thru my other friends at the drop zone, he was always out to help any of the newbies getting started, always had his camera ready with an arm full of photos he was giving out to people, just for the hell of it, just for his love of the sport, he was truly an inspirational person and will always be remembered by us all however little we knew him personally he definitely had an impact on the way we view our sport.
blue skies pal.
thumper (the crazy brit)

Wagar was one of the best. He took me on my first base jump. I will never never forget him sitting next to me on the tower like a monkey, giving me all the encouragement I needed. I am so glad I got to jump with him. We're all gonna miss the Admiral.

Wagar --- one of the good guys, my thoughts are with his family, especially Max and Gretchen- and all that new him.
Eric was like none other, and will sorely be missed, What a loss. He had a presence like none other, those that new Wagar and his smile for even a short time would feel like they had known him for ages. I was certainly lucky to know him, and will cherish the laughs we had forever!
My sincere condolences to gretchen and 'max man', Wagar Blue Skies to you, may you fly free. God Bless. xxxx

Erich was always the bright light. Everyone loved Erich. And Erich loved everyone...no exceptions. His kindness and generosity touched every person who met him.
Erich, I will miss your smile and your presence. My next jump will be for you.

My best goes out to Gretchen and Max.

Erich was the type of guy that makes Skydiving such a great sport. His patience and teaching ability was like none other. I am very happy that I got the chance to get to know him. I will always remember Erich for his genuine kindness towards everyone that came in contact with his life. I will always remember you Erich.

My heart goes out to Gretchen and Max in this difficult time.

Ryan

anybody got any pics of Erich they can post. It would be nice to see his smiling face again.

Here is a shot Erich took on the way home from the Royal Gorge last month. For those who didnt have a chance to meet Erich, he is on the right with the green sweatshirt.

That A 2-way we did on the way home was so fun. I will never forget that...and all the other good times we had. You will be sorely missed my friend.

Rest in Peace.

~Johnny

Here's a picture of Erich (on the left for those that don't know him) from our March '04 trip to Kuala Lumpur. We were all haning out in a bar celebrating the weekend's jumps.

Rest in peace Erich.

my name is scott, and and i am a close friend of everyone in gretchens family, which erich will always be a part of. its kind of stange to feel so involved in all of this, considering that ive never been involved in jumping, and the few number of fortunate times i got to hang out with erich. i guess he is just that kind of guy. max and gretchen, i love you, and im proud to be a part of your family.

i was at erich and gretchens place about a week and a half ago, and sat up with him for a few hours talking about the website and the buisness, watching jumps, looking at pics, and showing him some photoshop stuff. he started telling me about the website for maybe 2 minutes, and i was sold on doing some photoshop work, animation, video work, or whatever else i could do to help him get it rolling. i still am. if anyone was working closely with him on that specifically, and would still like to do it, i would be more than happy to help in any way possible.

in addition to the website, i am also interested in putting together a dvd. i want to do this, not only for max, gretchen, and erichs family and friends to have something to watch whenever they want, but also to make a kickass jump video and to show anyone interested how great erich was. i have access to erichs video and pics, and would like to use that, as well as any other footage of erich and the crew that anyone else would like to contribute. be it jump footage, or party footage, or random whatever that might work.

if you have some video to send me, hit me up at dysfunctional_@hotmail.com, with monkeys or erich or something in the title so i know it isnt some spam crap. good quality digital is better, but even old tapes people have or whatever is cool too. i will work out whatever details involved in how to acquire it, and how to get it back to you if necesary, through the email address listed. tell me how much stuff and what formats you have, and basic contact info - phone, email, whatever.

finally, i want to say it was cool to meet all of you guys at gretchens. eric, sam, johnny, robbie, and everyone else that i cant remember. the turnout for the funeral was incredible, and everyone that spoke, and that came out just reinforced not only how much this sucks, but how great a person erich was.

sorry about the rant, but this whole thing makes me feel like i need to contribute to something somehow.

scott
dysfunctional_@hotmail.com

to check out wagars video he made for the gofast games in colorado go to
www.airsportsnetwork.com to view it just let it load.
Also a few of us went out to the tower sunday and
we drank a few for the admiral he even bummed
afew smokes from us.
miss you tons brother and you will never be forgotten.
DQ
delta

Video of Erich provided by TruckerBASE is here.

Sia & Sick Monkey


It was fun, when it was fun...

-smd7

I have a post in the bonfire.