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Posts: 469
Location: Downers Grove, IL | On Saturday June 12th, Kyle Stefanski lost his life in a car accident in Elkhorn Wisconsin. He was 2 blocks away from his summer home, on Wandawega Lake, when his brakes failed and his jeep headed into the woods. His emergency brake was pulled and the shifter was in 1st gear when the vehicle was inspected by his father. Kyle was with a friend who fortunately survived the accident, but he was not so lucky, as his heart failed during the impact. The rescue team suggested that kyle risked his own life to save his friends by steering the drivers side of his jeep into the trees. Kyle was the most determined and dedicated muskie angler that I have ever known and we shared many fishing trips together over the years. We had been roommates throughout college at the University of Iowa. His graduation was planned for the end of July and he only had one class left to finish to get his economics degree. He will always be with me in memory and in my heart on all my muskie adventures. I love you kyle, I'll never forget you and happy birthday buddy! (23 today)
The funeral will be this Wednesday, June 16th from 3-8pm at Adams Winterfield and Sulliven funeral home, 4343 Main St. Downers Grove, IL
Mass will be held Thursday, June 17th at St. Mary's Church, 444 Wilson street, Downers Grove, IL. Parking available at the corner of Prarie and Douglas
If you have any questions or need directions feel free to call me at: Home 630-852-4714 Cell 630-452-5216 or email me at [email protected]
Sincerely, Matt Wendell
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 Kyle and matt2.jpg (165KB - 148 downloads)
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Posts: 15
Location: Menominee MI, in Da UP, eh? | Matt,
My deepest and heartfelt sympathy goes out to you and all Kyle's family and friends. I did not know Kyle, other than from reading about him here, but it sounds as if we all lost one heck of a guy. A guy who was destined to make a huge impact on the sport, and in the lives of everyone he touched....
God Bless and pass along to family that Kyle has a great many friends that extend their sympathy.
Edited by Nofish 6/14/2004 11:38 PM
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Posts: 3913
| As above, heartfelt sympathy and grief for your loss. Sounds like Kyle was a very special guy. Wish I knew him. |
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Posts: 294
Location: Suspended | A tragedy for sure, the sadness reaches all the way to the east coast. My condolences. |
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| Matt,
If you need to get away, talk, or just fish, my boat is open to you at anytime, anyplace. I'll even let you have the front so Rice Lake pro issues don't happen. 
Steve Cady
763-227-7653
[email protected]
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Posts: 469
Location: Downers Grove, IL | Thanks Cady. Things are just starting to set in right now. I've been in shock since I found out on monday and everything seems to be getting harder by the minute. I don't know how I'm going to pick up his gear and trailer his boat home without him sitting right next to me talking strategies and patterns. I'm just glad we got to spend so much time fishing PC this spring. He and I had some great times out there.....we all have great times out there. I'm going to miss him with all my heart.
Matt |
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Posts: 469
Location: Downers Grove, IL | To all of you who wanted Kyle's home address:
Greg and Dolores Stefanski
438 Sherman St.
Downers Grove, IL 60515 |
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Posts: 20260
Location: oswego, il | Matt, thanks for posting the info. I will stop by after work to pay my respects. |
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| I have been reading these posts with great feelings of sorrow and then I saw Kyle's parent’s names. I went to high school and college with his dad Greg and tended bar at their wedding. Haven't seen them in 25 years but I feel like I have been kicked in the gut. If Kyle had even a bit of his dad's zest for life he was a great man. I will not be able to make it to the services but I will keep Kyle and his family in my prayers and thoughts from LOTW. May the love of the Lord comfort the family.
Ray Nowak
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Posts: 132
Location: Chicago, IL | I have truely never met someone with more of a passion for muskie fishing than Kly. Some of the sh!t he would pull to just get out on the water for a couple of hours was crazy. I had the pleasure of knowing and hanging out with Kly for the past 5 years. From our weekly bowling trip to Coralville Lanes in Iowa with Kly, my brother and the rest of the guys, to watching from Jonesi's boat Kly and my brother battle muskie fever, and finally to Kly getting wasted while trolling slammer deep divers at Lac Suel. The thoughts of never fishing with Kly again or never watching him throw his perfect straight ball is hard for me. I am extremely lucky to have shared so many good times and trips with Kly. I have always known Kly to be a toughlove kinda guy and I wish everyone to have the strength to get through these tough times the way Kly got through tough fishing days. I look forward to seeing and meeting those of you who can make it to the wake/funeral. Rest in peace buddy and may the lord bless you with 50 inchers.
Marc Wendell |
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Posts: 5874
| Ray,
I will relay your thoughts and condolences to Kyles parents. I wonder if they know how many lives that Kyle touched in his brief time. They surely will be proud of him. |
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| My heartfelt thoughts go to you Matt and Kyles family. Let's not take life for granted and live it to the fullest. Looking at his face on the picture is what it is all about. Matt: remember the good times..even thought its gonna hurt for awhile. |
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Posts: 20260
Location: oswego, il | I went to the wake tonight, knew where it was at because it's a place I have driven by hundreds of times and seen many, many wakes being held there. I have never seen so many cars there as I have seen today. Parking was into the streets two blocks away. The line to meet his parents was 30min long and the place was full with alot of people outside. This kid sure did touch alot of lives. There were a couple of easles with photo collages and a couple photo albums floating around too. Many of these pictures were of Kyle holding fish. The picture they made up for everybody to take one of home was of Kyle and his biggest musky. His passion for this sport was obvious. Kyle's parents were holding up well. Kyle will be missed by many but never forgotten. |
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Posts: 469
Location: Downers Grove, IL | I just wanted to say a quick thank you to all those who attended the wake tonight. I have never experienced such a positive attitude toward the death of a loved one, as I did tonight. Special thanks to Steve, Cady, Shep, Greg M, Joel, Dave, Slammer, John MD, Todd M, and anyone else who I forgot. It meant a lot to me, Kly and his parents.
Edited by thedude 6/17/2004 1:33 AM
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Posts: 724
Location: Southern W.Va. | Good-bye , my friend. Being around you made the world a happier place and a sadder one now that your gone. |
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| RIP KLY DOG....... THIS WEBSITE WONT BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU BUDDY... I LOVED READING THE BASHING WE WOULD HAVE ON CICCIONE AND YOU BASHING JONESI...... I NEVER GOT TO GIVE YOU THOSE DEEP INVADERS THAT YOU WANTED!!! I WILL WATCH OUT FOR MATT ... I KNOW HOW MUCH HE LOVES YOU..... MAY GOD BLESS YOU WIHT MANY 50 INCHERS BUDDY!!!!!!!
SINCERLY;
BRIAN ROBERTD |
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Posts: 124
Location: Rice Lake,WI | Rest in Peace Kyle and may your family and friends grief pass quickly. Have not met the young man but he sounds like someone I would want in my boat. It's going to be tough for all those angels....netting all those fish...My deepest regards,god bless.
JT |
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Posts: 1
| That hits me pretty hard. I have buddies i fish with all the time and i couldn't imagine losing one of them. My condolences are with you. |
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | I have been away from this board for way too long. Just heard the tragic news. I never got the chance to meet Kyle but have read his posts and have trully thought of him as a friend indeed. My heartfelt sorrow and condolences to KLYs friends and family. My prayers are with all of you. I wish that I could have shared the boat with him in the past. Now I will have to wait with everyone else to fish with Kyle on heavens trophy Muskie waters. I feel deep sadness at this time as we have lost a trully great young man. |
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Posts: 736
Location: Hartford, WI | Kyle I don't think you will ever realize how much I will miss you buddy.
Jim
Edited by Jim K 6/20/2004 9:42 AM
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Posts: 7090
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | ttt |
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