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Posts: 699
Location: Hugo, MN | From the St. Paul Pioneer Press this morning.
http://www.twincities.com/north/ci_5580218
Four days of searching the Mississippi River have not turned up any clues in the disappearance of an owner of a well-known Fridley fishing tackle store.
But family and friends are holding out hope that Bill Fiebranz, 38, will soon return to his Blaine home, and to work at Thorne Bros. Custom Rod and Tackle.
"We miss him, and we just want him to come home," said Jenny Lewnau, who is Fiebranz's stepdaughter.
"We are asking people to keep his family in their prayers and hope for the best," said Josh Roundsley, co-owner of the shop with Fiebranz. "We're pretty close here. It's like another family."
Fiebranz's wife, Pamela Fiebranz, reported him missing at 3:40 p.m. Thursday, according to police in Blaine. He was last seen at 7 a.m. last Tuesday at the store, which is often cited by Field Stream magazine as one of the top 10 bait-and-tackle shops in the nation.
Pamela Fiebranz told police that calls to his cell phone had gone unanswered, authorities said. It was uncharacteristic of her husband to be gone without telling her because he is paraplegic, she told them.
The family first contacted police after about two days had passed because that's the customary time requirement before authorities will consider an adult to be missing, said Lewnau, who is Pamela Fiebranz's daughter.
Blaine police contacted the General Motors OnStar dispatch center requesting they search for Fiebranz's 2005 Silverado pickup truck using the vehicle's global positioning system.
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At 4:08 p.m. Thursday, Sherburne County sheriff's deputies found the empty truck on Minnesota 24 at Clearwater, Minn., near a boat landing on the Mississippi River. They found what they believe is his wheelchair partially submerged off the ramp.
Area rescue crews searched the Mississippi on Thursday and Friday by sonar and boat and with dive teams. On Monday, the Minnesota State Patrol used a helicopter to search a stretch of the river between Clearwater and Anoka.
It did not appear Fiebranz was fishing or testing equipment at the ramp, said Blaine Police Chief David Johnson, nor was there evidence pointing to suicide.
"Foul play is not suspected," he said. "But we don't know what the circumstances are. It's an open missing-person investigation looking at all aspects of what could have occurred."
He said he was unsure if boat or dive searches would resume because the Mississippi's waters are high and moving fast.
Roundsley said nothing appeared amiss when he last saw Fiebranz on Tuesday morning. It was a hectic week, Roundsley said, as the store prepares for a large fishing show. He and other staff thought Fiebranz had an appointment, he said.
Fiebranz and Josh Roundsley bought Thorne Bros. in 2004. Roundsley described Fiebranz, who had worked there for more than 15 years, as a fixture of the store.
"He is a great friend and business partner," Roundsley said. "He took his job very seriously and was very good at what he did."
Fiebranz was a rod maker and managed the rod shop before buying the store, when he assumed many of the company's financial operations, Roundsley said. He is also, of course, an avid fisherman.
"We all are here," Roundsley said. "You don't buy a tackle shop and not fish."
The store is cited often by fishing enthusiasts in magazines, Internet chat rooms and blogs as a must-visit site if you're in Minnesota. Many of Thorne Bros.' 15 employees are well-known in different areas of the fishing world for their mastery in making specialty jigs or rods, Roundsley said.
In recent days, the store's focus has turned to Fiebranz.
"With the hours we keep, we're very tight," Roundsley said.
Fiebranz is described as white, 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 185 pounds, with brown eyes. He is paraplegic and unable to walk, the result of injuries suffered in a snowmobile accident.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about Fiebranz's disappearance to contact the Blaine Police Department at 763-785-6168 or the Anoka County Sheriff's Office at 763-427-1212. |
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Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | Oh man. That sounds pretty serious. Sounds very strange, I wonder what could have happened. I'll have my fingers crossed and Bill and his family in my prayers, hoping for the best.
curleytail |
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Posts: 2378
| This is terrible. Always enjoy talking to Billy when I go in there.
We had a couple long talks when my mom was first hurt. Talking to somebody that had gone through the same thing as my mom helped me understand a few things.
Hoping for the best. Bill and his family are in my thoughts
Edited by BALDY 4/3/2007 10:25 AM
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Posts: 1316
Location: Madison, WI | It's alittle late, but i keep waiting for someone to say April fools... My prayers and thoughts go out to Billy and his family. |
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Posts: 199
Location: Nebraska | Prayers to the family that everything will come out all right. |
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Posts: 1080
| Wow. Not good news. I don't know Bill at all. Never met him in person. May have spoken to him on the phone though and not known it when calling to order things to be shipped to me. Regardless....my thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family...hopefully everything works out and he's found alive. |
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Posts: 556
| Wow very bad new i think i have talked to him before but not sure hoping for the best. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Talk about a terrible way to start off the day.
I've had many talks with him and really enjoyed picking his brain about custom rods. To be sure he'll be in my prayers. |
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Posts: 1185
Location: Iowa | My prayers are with the him and his family...
Big Perc |
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Posts: 327
| Terrible to hear , he will be in our thoughts and prayers !!! |
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Posts: 158
Location: Eagan, MN | Hopefully thru the grace of God Bill is found safe and returned to his family.
I've been fortunate to spend a lot of time talking to Bill about custom rods. He's always been extremely patient with my questions, and his knowlege and passion for what he does is evident. All my muskie rods are made by Bill and Thorne's. He has even rebuilt for me, free of charge, a custom Diamondback that I broke (most likely thru my own carelessness). Had it back to me within a week during the middle of the season.
God bless Bill and please bring him home safely. |
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| Hopefully he is OK, and makes it home safe and sound |
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Posts: 311
| My familys prayers are with him and his family..............God, bring him home safe............ |
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| What a sad story, my prayers go out for Billy and his family and the guys at Thornes, he was a stand up guy, and always took care of his customers.
Troyz |
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Posts: 9
| I have met Bill at the Minn. Muskie Expo what a great guy. My prayers go out to Bill and his family for his safe return.
Doug Kloet |
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Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | A very unfortunate incident. Prayers go out to Bill, his family, and the entire staff at Thorne during this difficult time.
Aaron
Edited by AWH 4/3/2007 6:20 PM
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| crushing news....hoping for the best |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | The best thing to do is Pray and Pray hard.
I've talked to Billy quite a few times at Thornes, and can say that he is a really great guy.
Hopefully things will turn out for the best.
Are there any updates ?
God Bless you Billy.
Jerome |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | to all of the people at Thorne's, the family and all of you who are close to this i'm saddened. i'm from over here in n. wisco but always try to stop at the store when i'm in the cities on business and it's a great group of people ... i wish you all the best as you go through this terrible time ... |
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Posts: 28
Location: Sarell, MN | I will keep him in my Prayer's tonight, I hope that he is OK.
Sean Knudson
Edited by MNMuskies 4/3/2007 7:14 PM
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Posts: 686
Location: Tomahawk, Wisconsin | My thoughts and prayers go out to to Bill and his family
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Posts: 221
Location: ohio | i hope all turn's out ok ..... |
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Posts: 680
Location: Muskoka Ontario,Canada | Wow this story gave me chills. Let's send all our positive thoughts his way and pray for his safe return home. |
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Posts: 4266
| I'll keep him in my prayers tonight.
Hope you don't mind, but I usually try to remember to pray for everyone on this board every night, because we all know what it is like to truly appreciate the beauty of what God has given to all of us. At times like this, we all turn to God in our own way. I'm sure that He's listening.
Beaver |
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Posts: 20218
Location: oswego, il | Very sad story, he has a great tackle shop, been there a few times. Hoping and praying for the best of outcomes. |
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Posts: 284
Location: Fishing the weeds | Crushing News. I've talked with Bill on several occasions on my treks home to Minnesota. We here are all praying for his safe return. Pat |
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Posts: 910
Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | Bill and his family are in my thoughts. hope he is found safe. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Hope he is just on a good fishing hole and will come back when the bite is over. Prayers sent. |
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| Thoughts and prayers for his family. that story actually made me sick to my stomach. man....... |
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Posts: 676
Location: Wisconsin | http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1098917.html
His truck was found at a Mississippi landing and his wheelchair was found partly in the river. This is really sad to think of what could have happened. What a shock......... |
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