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Bill "Ratbike Bill"
Wisely-
The first time
I met Bill, he was trying to kick over
his raggedy ol' Shovelhead in about 95
degree weather outside a Handy Mart
(gas stop). The guy was already
nursing a broken foot and had to
resort to kneeling on the seat of the
bike and then "jumping" on the kicker
with his good foot. He kicked and
kicked until that old Shovel finally
gave in. Bill and I came to be close
friends and spent many, many miles
sharing the same asphalt, telling
stories and generally sharing our
lives. My wife, Beverly, and I also
spent many weekends camping out with
both Bill and Bonnie at different
rallies throughout the midwest. Bill
was a fun, kind-hearted man who while
deeply religious never pressed his
beliefs onto anybody else. Bill
had ridden with the Christian
Motorcyclist Association and was a
founding member of the Narrow Road
Riders in Belleville, IL. Ironically,
both organizations turned Judas
against him and he went back to
"Lone Wolf" status with
me. As with life, Bill and
I eventually travelled our
separate roads and I lost touch with
him for a few years. We emailed and
IM'd from time to time and it was a
sudden shock to learn that Bill had
colon cancer early in 2008. Bill, I
could have been a better friend, but I
am a better person for knowing you and
learning that no matter what, to keep
a spring in my step, a smile on my
face and smooth road under my wheels.
I'll miss you, man.
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Simmie "Big K"
Kinsey- "Big K" was nothing
more than a good ol' country boy
wrapped up in a bear's body. Big K
was REALLY Big K! =) A big man
with a big heart, he was my
neighbor growing up and the first
1%er I ever met in person. He rode
a big fully-dressed Hog back in
the day and I remember watching
him chug down the street on that
scooter... I didn't really get to
know Big
K until coming back from Korea...
By then he was sickly and
alone and asked if I would
show him some work out stuff with
weights. One thing led to another
and I guess I became Big K's
pseudo trainer over time. More
than that, though, I became his
friend. Similar to Tom Halterman,
Big K was a hero who nobody knew
of, back in a day where the word
"hero" wasn't thrown around like
it is today... Big K served three
complete tours of duty in Vietnam
and retired as a First Seargent
with a a whole BOWL of fruit salad
(awards) for bravery. I miss ya',
"K", and thank you for "schooling"
me on what it means to be an man
of honor and biker.
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Tom Halterman-
Mr.
Halterman was not a biker, but he had
the SOUL of a biker, for sure. We
buried Mr. Halterman today... He lived
a long and colorful life, having
fought the Japanese behind enemy lines
in the jungles of Burma as an OSS (now
CIA) officer during World War II. He
raised several sons and daughters with
his wife of 57 years, Ruth, and
delighted in spending time with his
grand kids and great kids. I had the
opportunity to get to know Mr.
Halterman through conversations and
sharing "war stories" and came to
appreciate this humble man and the
accomplishments of his life. If a
man's worth is based on his impact on
our world, then Mr. Halterman's life
had MUCH worth, in my opinion.
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John "JD"
Davis- Diagnosed with an
inoperable brain tumor just before
Christmas 2003, JD struggled valiantly
against the brain cancer which
ultimately took his life in March
2004. JD was one of the fastest
motorcycle riders I ever knew and I
must admit that while I acted tough I
"white knuckled" my bike more than
once trying to keep up with him. I
won't forget you, JD... You are missed
by all.
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"Li'l
Ricky"- Li'l Ricky,
a.k.a. "Hippie" was an interesting
fella. = ) The man was short in
physical stature but BIG in heart and
could out party and out ride most of
the folks we hung with. The first time
I met Ricky was in 20 degree weather
in the middle of winter during a Polar
Bear Run. Ricky had a raggedy old red
Sportster and he played Hell keeping
that thing going! I'll never forget
this little dude, all bundled up from
head to toe in leathers, running/ push
starting his Sporty down the Main
Street of Belleville. Ricky's life
turned one afternoon when the
dumptruck he was driving on the
interstate had a blow out. The truck
crossed the median, killing a guy in a
van and leaving Ricky paralyzed from
the waist down. Recovery was long and
hard and, in my opinion, Ricky never
fully recovered from the mental
anguish he experienced. Ricky's
drinking and partying kicked up which
eventually led to his death when he
ran his vehicle into a pole. They say
a candle burning on both ends burns
brightest, but also burns quickest...
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Gary
Turner- Tragically killed
while on his scooter by a drunk
driver. My first experience as a
member of an organized motorcycling
group (ABATE of Illinois), I sat in
awe as those around me who knew Gary
much better than I related his life
and events to me. Leaving a town
homecoming, lights off and
drunk on a dark and winding road
from Milstadt, Illinois, the "cager"
never saw Gary turn on his blinker and
slow to make a left hand turn.
The cager hit Gary and his riding
partner and traveled hundreds of yards
before finally stopping. Gary was
killed instantly and his passenger
severely injured. The cager was
charged with DUI. We held vigil
outside of the county courthouse as
the scumbag that ran him over went
through court... Gary's life was
"worth" three year's probation and a
loss of license. "Justice", huh?
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Bonnie Flemming- Bonnie was one of the most
independent female bikers I have
ever ridden with. A long time member
of the International
Brotherhood
of Motorcycle C ampers,
Bonnie wouldn't think twice of
fueling up her raggedy GL 1100 Wing,
hooking up her travel camper and
heading down the road toward new
adventures. After years of keeping
her old Goldwing running, Bonnie
finally had the opportunity to
retire and spent her money buying a
used GL 1500 with a "voyager"
portable trike kit attached. Someone
suggested Bonnie get a feel for her
new bike by removing the additional
two wheels, which she did, and
during her first outing on the now
standard 'Wing something happened
and she crashed. The bike landed on
top of her and crushed her helmeted
head. She spent the next year in a
vegetative state with permanent and
irreversible brain damage. Bonnie
died yesterday from complications
related to pneumonia and while
saddened by the news, I could not
have been happier for her. A woman
as strong and independent as Bonnie
would never stand for being enslaved
by her own body and I am sure
she is now free once again to
explore those unexplored roads and
head her bike toward new adventures.
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Tanya
Tomlin- A shooter's bullet
took this young lady's life too soon.
I always remember her with a great
smile and care free attitude. Tanya,
you were way too young, kiddo... New
to the "biking scene", Tanya welcomed
me one rainy evening at the bar she
tended with a hearty "Watcha' have,
honey?" =) I still remember your great
smile...
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Fred "Fritz"
Hoffarth- Dry wit and a love
for the ride sustained Fritz as he
fought against the "Big C". A quiet,
unassuming man during the day, Fritz
would transform into the center of
attention at night with his
never-ending funny stories and GREAT
wit. Fritz was a friend to MANY, and I
will never forget the sight of
(literally) two miles of bikes
rumbling down the interstate for his
funeral...
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Donnie
Bauman- Taken suddenly
from his family. Donnie was a small
guy with a BIG heart and smile. He was
a good, hard working dad who did not
deserve to die so young. His
death from heart disease has, in turn,
saved many as the 100 MPH Club (local
M/C) holds a Donnie Bauman
benefit run each year for the American
Heart Association.
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Leroy
Bauer- A Vietnam
veteran, Leroy died the way
he lived: On his bike and in the wind.
Always thinking of others, Leroy
pushed his wife, Barb, off of his
scooter as he realized he was going to
crash into a utility pole... His
thoughtfulness saved her life at the
expense of his own... Leroy, I'll
never forget you yelling "Don't do
it!" at our wedding as the rest of the
biker crowd cheered on. =) You are
missed, my friend.
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Mike
Zimensky- Literally saved my
wife and me one wintery night when our
furnace backed up and shot carbon
monoxide into our house. Mike worked
for Illinois Power and came out to
"sniff" the place. He was so
apologetic as he had to shut down the
furnace because it couldn't be fixed.
What he didn't realize was that
without his concern for our safety, we
could have died from CM poisoning.
Thanks, Mike. You are missed.
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Wayne
Groth- Tragically killed
by a 16 year old, a big car, and an
illegal U-turn... "I didn't see him"
was the driver's excuse after pulling
in front of Wayne as he was scooterin'
to the local ATM in town. Like Gary's
death, nothing ever happened to the
driver of the car.
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Steve
Barbe- Diagnosed with an
inoperable brain tumor, Steve fought a
valiant, albeit too brief, fight
against his illness. The brothers and
sisters of the 100 MPH Club threw one
helluva' BBQ Benefit for Steve just
days before he passed.
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Kelly Silvey- Kelly was
a young man who was taken from us much
too soon thanks to that rat bastard,
leukemia. Kelly fought a hard,
difficult battle, but never once
complained about his condition or the
poison the docs forced through his
body to kill the cancer. Kelly was a
devoted ABATE of Illinois member and
he and I got to know one another
thanks to ABATE and riding to Patriot
Guard missions throughout the state.
Kelly's passing was deeply felt by
those who called themselves his
friends, and spurred several members
to form a "Team In Training" group to
raise money for the Lymphoma/ Leukemia
Society of the U.S. Kelly, aka
"Trainman". I am a better person for
having known you.
Bob
"Fatbob"
Watkins- Tattooed from head
to toe, Bob looked mean as hell, but
with a teddy bear's heart. One of the
first real "bikers" I met when I
started riding... Bob, I'll never
forget you sittin' on the ground in
the middle of the desert and
tightening that damn chain on your
raggedy ol' Suzuki! My first time to
Sturgis... What a ride! Take care,
brother. You make me smile even now.
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