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Posts: 149
| Unfortunately Kyle and I never crossed paths. Clearly I missed out. My sympathy and thoughts go out to his family and friends. Clearly he was a shooting star. |
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Posts: 2378
| I never met Kyle, but I could always tell from the boards that I would have liked to. A tragedy like this is always heartbreaking, whether you knew the guy or not.
My thoughts are with his friends and family. |
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Posts: 402
| Oh my, this almost leaves me speechless. I don't know what to say other that Kyle was a great guy to fish with, and a well rounded individual. I had the opportunity to fish with him a couple times in my boat. It was my privelage to have fished with him, he's a great guy, great angler, and a spectacular teacher. He taught me things on the water I won't forget. He taught me when things are slow you have to cover water and keep your head up and just add a little humor and thats exactly what he did. My prayers and sympathy go out to his family. This is troubling news and will leave me very sad when I think about it. Thanks for the good times, kyle, buddy. |
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Posts: 216
| R.I.P. Kyle you will be missed by many. |
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Posts: 20269
Location: oswego, il | I thought about kyle all day today. I work out of downers grove about 2 miles from his parents house and even closer to his sister's house. I still have private messages saved on this site from him. I will miss the wintertime chatroom sessions with him, heck I just sent him a bunch of stuff not two weeks ago. We never did hook up enough, had an open invitation to goto hooters next to my work whenever he came home from school. I remember his little buick with the sucker tank in the back and a hole through the trunk into the seating area to travel his musky rods. It still hurts. If anything gets set up in his name I am in 100%. |
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Posts: 419
Location: Appleton, WI | I haven't had a chance to meet Kyle, but remember his great humor and threads that were posted on this site. You could tell by the way that he wrote, and how many friends that he had that he was a special guy. I feel like I've known him a long time by what was shared on this board. I was honestly choked-up and shocked to hear. God I wish I would have been able to share a boat with him. I remember that monster carp that he had caught. Also the pail picture that he caught while fishing with Shep. It's those pictures and his contagioius smile that really speak volumes for the type of fun-loving person he was. I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers. Something tells me that he's fishing on the most incredible musky lake imaginable right now.
catch ya later,
Krappie |
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Posts: 37
| My thoughts and prayers go out to kyles family. Its a shame to lose a great person and fisherman. Kyle will always be in my thoughts. |
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Posts: 626
Location: ashtabula ohio | man oh man. sorry to hear this fellas...my thoughts are with all you guys now. never knew him or most of you guys here, but ive lost many friends in my time. i just know we all share the same passion...he sounded like a heck of a guy! god bless the family. |
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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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| I am not a member of muskiefirst, but frequent the website whenever I get the chance. I read many of
"Kly's" posts but never meet him. It sounds like I missed out. Best wishes to his family and friends.
Steve Imhoff |
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Posts: 2061
Location: Belgium | oh #*#*, didn't see that one coming! I just emailed him to find out whether he liked the lure I sent him .... #*^@, I got tears in my eyes, I tell ya. I have only fun memories of Kyle, how else could it be. He's about the coolest cat I know!  Staying up late (early) at night to chat on the muskiefirst chatsite, exchanging lures, fishing pictures, keeping updated on fishing reports, ... I'm gonna miss him for sure guys. This is the first friend that I lost and it gets to me. Kyle, wherever you are, you da man!!! I'll miss you! |
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| I never meet kly but can tell by the wonderful pics posted here that he loved life and lived it to the fullest. I thought "if I died , could my friends find that many pic's of me with a great smile on my face? " the pic's tell the story , what a wonderful smile -- wish I would have known this guy. It's very clear he will be deeply missed ManitouDan |
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Posts: 827
Location: Minneapolis,Minnesota | My god...I'm in total shock.
Kly was a cool dude. Met him a few times at shows and out on the hawg farm in Iowa. I Liked the little feller right away.
I know he was one heck of a muskie fisherman and held in very high regards by all that knew him.
My prayers go out to his family and friends.
He will be missed  |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | The first time I meet KLY was at Okauchee Lake about 3 years ago. I was out with Jason Smith and we met KLY at the launch. He opened up the trunk of his car to get a few suckers. To my amazement he had a sucker tank in the trunk with a air pump hooked up to the battery to keep them alive and frisky.
This is my kind of muskie fishermen I thought as we loaded his gear up into the boat. We had a great time and shared some storys. This was just the start of KLY's frienship with me. Since then we talked through PM's, at the shows and on the water.
Last winter I had the honor of hosting Joel's(Tuffy1) batchlor party on the ice late icefishing. Kyle was there to support Joel as were about 30 other of his Joel's friends. What a great time we all had, Kyle, as usual was in the midle of most of the antics. That should not surprize anyone being the jokester he was.
This is going to be a tough week without the little man with a GREAT BIG HEART.
I am going to miss you Kyle, rest in peace my friend.................................. |
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Posts: 155
Location: Watertown MN | My deepest sympathy for Kly's family and friend, it is tough to see someone so young lose his life with so much ahead him yet to accomplishin life. I never had a change to meet him, but he sounds like a true musky nut, and we all know what great people musky nuts are when all differences are set aside. Hope your fighting the big one up in heavan
Sincerely
Troyz
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Posts: 96
Location: Eden Prairie, Mn. |
My deepest sympathies to the Stefanski family, loved one's, close friends and his fellow anglers.
Why ? Who cannot let this flame burn on. Bright and crackling in youth, to see it grow strong and deep in adulthood then in
time slowly fade to the age of embers and wisdom, giving so many warmth, joy and security.
What explains the winds that fanned his young flame so bright, only to then suddenly wane and allow it to be snuffed out.
Was his purpose in life fulfilled - and called 'home' - We do not know - So hard to understand. Such an ambassador of
life was seen on the horizon, ready to leap onto his long and fruitful endeavor of life. Now ?
Life is not fair but, equal. Everyone has the opportunity, what we do with this gift is our choice - This young man chose to
spread life.
I have never met the young man, as I sit here a mere miles from some of his friends and fellow anglers
and others thousands of miles away, reading all of your posts conveying sympathy and sorrow to his family and
the recounting of fond memories. I feel you have passed on to me what he was in life and what he will bring in spirit.
God Bless
Mother
Thomas Wilmer
ps- For those who've known him, their will be a moment on the water some time soon that will be very difficult, follow your
heart. You will honor him rightly.
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| I have known Kyle since 1987. I have memories stretching as far back as sitting in the hallway(as punishment) for lunch while serving detention at St Marys with Kyle. Kyle never passed up a moment to test the limits. Playing baskeball and football with kyle for a number of years. Never before have I met someone who was able to play with such a presence and energy on the court and field. Though Kyle was not given extreme height, God did bless him with the biggest heart ever imaginable. That is what is making it so hard for me to think of is that his heart gave way. That heart which filled all of our lives with precious memories. I have many memories formed during the precious college years with kyle as well. The first year at Iowa when I suggessted that a group of our college buddies take a trip to a lake which I have been lucky to fish for ten years, and Kyles whole hearted I LOVE IT reaction. AS the Trip began Kyle boated a 41 inch northern. Not only did that fish change Kyle but its effect on all of us was tremendous. That was the moment I see as defining Kyles love of large freshwater fish. Kyle you hold a special place in my heart, and I will forever keep your memory alive in every cast I throw. And especially with every birdsnest I have. Let us all keep that large heart of Kyles alive, by keeping thoughts of the man who was large enough to play center for all of our teams.
Kyle I Love You,
Michael Lucado
One final note, I came across a poem Kyle wrote in 8th grade which I would be honored to share with all of you.
TIME TO GO AND GROW
The day has come,
It’s time to grow,
We’ve been together eight years or so,
And now it’s time to go.
We’ve been there for each other
through thick and thin,
Growing strong with each other,
Caring for one another,
But now it’s time to go.
Being clowns and getting into trouble
And making frowns, laughing together,
Crying together, being there for each other.
Now it’s time to part,
Letting go of each other to grow,
And now it’s time to go.
Kyle Stefanski
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Posts: 150
| Mother and Muchado, Thanks for the beautiful words. I never got to meet KLY but got a big kick out of reading his posts. I too now feal like I missed out not knowing him but with all the great stories I have been able to catch up.
I plan to fish this Friday and my first and last cast of the day will be for KLY and all the guys who knew him and are hurting. My thoughts are with you all.
From all the pictures and stories Kyle must have loved to laugh.
"Fishing should be the exercise of your skills-and its rewards the places it brings you to."
-Negley Farson
Going Fishing
Edited by Randy Whiteman 6/16/2004 9:44 PM
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Posts: 367
Location: Chicago | This is terrible. My thoughts and prayers to his family. Great guy who I never met, but offered to fish with me without ever meeting him, just talking in chat. terrbile sad day.
God Bless |
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| Kyle was not only my brother, but my bestfriend and THE finest man and angler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He loved this website and chatting and fishing with everyone here. My last outing with my brother was in march, he retrained me on my casting so well that his huge ass lure went into the tree on shore. We laughed our asses off and he said "now that was a decent cast!" (of course we went ashore to get it out). I am truely touched by all of your kind words, thoughts and prayers...reading this helped me feel for a moment his excitement and energy about muskies again. I love my brother more than life itself and when I find him in heaven someday, I'll hook my first muskie with the man and hero who impressed us all with his skills, energy and humor.
There is a reason why God took him up soooo young....he was an angel on earth and had the patience of a saint...he has touched so many people's lives with his enthusiasm for life, terrific sense of humor, and drive to be the best at whatever he put his mind to.
Grieving Sister,
Nicole Stefanski |
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| While only meeting him breifly as I swapped a lure with him at a show, which I have not yet used. It just seems that I've known him, because of this board. I never was fortunate enough to fish with him. I feel a loss just in that. He touched a lot of people, more than most realize.
I can see that we lost a good one.
Dan White |
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Posts: 169
Location: Elgin ,IL | <p>It's so hard to comprehend this loss. I will miss him! Guys, I wish I could have made the wake last night; however, my mom is in the hospital trying to hang on. I spent another long night in ICU with her. Nonetheless, Kyle you will be missed dearly!! May God bless you & keep you safe! Our love & support will go out to those you've left behind! There won't be a time on the water when I won't think of you!</p><p /> |
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | Hi Rich, Our Prayers are with you and your Mom as well
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| First saw this now and I am truly sad. I really enjoyed reading his posts and could see how much he impacted his friends and those that met him. My sincere condolences to his family, friends and fishing buds. I know this is hard to comprehend. He seemed like a good spirit that will be deeply missed.
Sincerely,
Wade |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | As I sit here ...I'm in tears. I haven't been on the board in a while and I'm shocked by this news!
I never met him but my heart aches for his family and all you who were fortunate enough to be his boat partners through the years. I agree that his energy and enthusiasm for muskies came right through this board and touched all who enjoy this great sport called "Fishing".
May we meet someday soon my friend......
Steve Johnson (StephenDawg) |
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Posts: 82
| Wish I could have met him..... My prayers are with his family and friends.
Jim |
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Posts: 7101
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | bttt |
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Posts: 7
| I found a Ralph Waldo Emerson writing that I feel Kyle lived his life by...
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of flase friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nic |
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