AeroPark

I miss her lots. I always smile thinking of her. Jeanne

I grew up near Hwy 11 & Hwy 31 in Racine about 2 miles East of Sturtevant. I was only 10 in 1964 but I had heard alot about the skydiving going on there. I remember the airport bar was open long after the airport itself shut down. In fact, the airport bar may still be open. I believe Milaeger's Nursery & Greenhouses are next door to it. My mother tells a story about a friend of hers who was s style jumper from Czechoslovakia making jumps there in the early or mid 60's. I'll try to get more info from her if possible. I didn't start jumping until 1981 in East Troy, but my cousin, who started a lot earlier than I did my have some info, too. He grew up in Racine. I am now a few hundred miles from there, but will check to see if Bruce or Millie know anything more.

Jack - Your post remembering Jenny was very touching. She was a great woman and great skydiver. The only reason I got on some of the loads I did was because of her. I remember when Jenny, Patty, Lynn Squire & I went out to Xenia, Ohio for a weekend. We made a bunch of fun jumps and I have never laughed so hard! Jeanne

Just saw this thread. My first canopy off student status was a Strato Star. This was back in 1981. It did not have ropes & rings. I always had great openings and it flew great. This was back when we trash packed - although I remember mine had a strap. Best part of it all was the color - GREEN & GOLD! Go Packers!!!!!

Thanks, Jack! Gabe was such a great guy. I made quite a few jumps at Bristol Pig farm in the early to mid 80's. Took my JM certification there, too. I remember Barney and a couple other guys (whose names escape me right now) as well as Laurie and many others. Jeanne

The Pig Farm was in Bristol, Wisconsin just South of Kenosha as I remember it. Mostly a student mill, however, we used to jump there with a rotating 4-way competition - East Troy, Pig Farm, 7-Hills, Wisconsin Skydivers and I think another drop zone. This was sometime in the mid-80's. They had a Beaver that climbed real slow and you could carry on a conversation with the team that was on the step while your team was still inside... Camp Lake - that is where one of the guys that jumped at East Troy used to live. I remember when I was on student status and all the student gear was stolen from East Troy. Mark, Gene & I drove out there to borrow some old army gear that I had to jump with to keep on making student jumps. I made one or two jumps with that gear and thought I was going to die for sure. We were so spoiled with the pop top reserves and smaller containers that held our PC's. I can't remember his name for the life of me, but he was very short and later on had a stroke, but still came out to watch us skydive....someone out there knows who I am trying to remember! Help! Jeanne

Hi Mike & Rainbo - I was saddened too when I heard about Bill. He was a great guy. Remember his "90 right" corrections to the pilot? He'd be making corrections while we were climbing out on the step. You're right, he really encouraged us when it came to the team stuff and going to Nationals. Take care. Jeanne

Gene - That's "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again". John C & I once spent 5 minutes in Memphis. That's how long it took us to run pell mell from our gate in Memphis to the connecting flight that was taking us to Deland. Fog was miserable that night. Thank goodness we carried our rigs on. Our luggage, however, never made the flight. Of course this was December and we were dressed for Wisconsin. Our luggage never showed up until 3 days later. Had to borrow shorts and t-shirts from Joester & Sharyn.

Golly Rainbo - I remember most of that! You were really, really up there! I also remember the whole DZ moving the cookout and keg to the side of the road. We didn't want you to feel left out and miss the party! I also remember Animal almost losing control of his car and trying to kill us while passing some other jumper's car using the shoulder of the road. Oh wait, that was another time! Jeanne