Author Topic: Mike Gretz - Designer of the Twister (Read 11813 times)

john e. holliday · « **on:** December 30, 2015, 10:23:30 AM »

Earlier I got an E-Mail from a fellow modeler inquiring about Mike. Anyway, the word I got back from them was that Mike had some major surgery to remove a tumor. So that is all I know. So lets pray for him and his family.

Dane Martin · « **Reply #1 on:** December 30, 2015, 11:36:30 AM »

That's sad to hear. I pm'd him in June and he got right back to me. Haven't tried contacting him since.
Thanks for the update doc

wwwarbird · « **Reply #2 on:** December 30, 2015, 06:42:18 PM »

Thanks for the heads-up Doc, I hope he's ok.

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #3 on:** December 31, 2015, 05:28:43 PM »

Just want to express my hopes and prayers for a complete and speedy recovery for Mike. For you newbies to the hobby that may not know, Mike Gretz is a long, long time employee of SIG Manufacturing, and his name and design work are on lots of iconic models such as the Twister and Mustang Stunter, and is also an excellent C/L and R/C scale builder and flyer and probably THE nicest guy you will ever meet. GET WELL SOON MIKE!
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

Mike Keville · « **Reply #4 on:** December 31, 2015, 08:53:54 PM »

Hoping for the best for Mike...designer of the iconic 'Twister'.

MikeyPratt · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2016, 12:51:00 PM »

Quote from: Mike Keville on December 31, 2015, 08:53:54 PM

Hoping for the best for Mike...designer of the iconic 'Twister'.

Hi Guy's,
I went and saw Mike at the hospital on New Years eve and Mike seems to be doing pretty good. His sprit's are good and happy to be in such good care at the Abbot Northwestern with great Doctors & staff. Mike's wife Doris, along with his son David, were there so we all had a good time visiting. They are all very confidant that he will make a complete recovery.

Get well soon my old friend and you are in my prayers.

Mike Pratt

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2016, 01:07:19 PM »

Hi Mikey!
Thank you SO much for the report and update on Gretzie's condition. That is good news and here's hoping and praying for continued improvement and complete recovery!
Thanks a lot,
Dan McEntee

john e. holliday · « **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2016, 02:11:40 PM »

Thanks, from the old DOC Holliday too for the update.

Will Hinton · « **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2016, 04:47:02 PM »

Hey Mikey, good to see you posting here, especially with the good news about the other half of Mike & Mike! Be blessed, my friend.
Will

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2016, 05:56:19 PM »

Great news!

wwwarbird · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2016, 06:31:51 PM »

Thanks for the update Mikey, wishing Mike the best and hoping he gets back up to speed soon.

Allen Goff · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2016, 06:04:30 PM »

Let's all pray for Mike and his family. Just received word things are not good. More later.
Blessing
Allen

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #12 on:** January 06, 2016, 07:59:22 PM »

Prayers offered up for Mike and the family.

George · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2016, 10:08:27 AM »

Quote from: Crist Rigotti on January 06, 2016, 07:59:22 PM

Prayers offered up for Mike and the family.

Same here.

George

Mike Anderson · « **Reply #14 on:** January 16, 2016, 08:20:25 AM »

I received a message that Mike passed away last night. Rest in peace, my friend.

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #15 on:** January 16, 2016, 08:57:48 AM »

Just read on my facebook page that Mike passed away. Prayers for the family.

Mike

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #16 on:** January 16, 2016, 10:34:58 AM »

Another of the modeling flock gone.

I never met Mike but certainly know of his exploits at SIG and other places.

My condolences to his family and fair winds and tight lines to Mike. I'm sure we'll all meet again.

Randy Cuberly

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #17 on:** January 16, 2016, 10:36:00 AM »

   I am beyond saddened with the news of Mike's passing. Words fail me right now and I will have to process this a little bit more. They don't come much better than Mike Gretz.
   God Speed and Rest in Peace my friend,
   Dan McEntee

Dwayne · « **Reply #18 on:** January 16, 2016, 10:36:46 AM »

Maybe we should do a Twister fly-a-thon.

Tom Niebuhr · « **Reply #19 on:** January 16, 2016, 10:47:33 AM »

Didn't expect this after some earlier reports that were positive. We have lost a very good man. God Speed Mike.

Steve Scott · « **Reply #20 on:** January 16, 2016, 11:14:04 AM »

It would be appreciated if someone posted a short bio on Mike. I met him back in the late '80s at the Puyallup Expo when he brought Sig's new Mike Pratt-designed Skyray 35 out and, of course, saw him at the several Sig CL meets I attended last decade.

Keith Sandberg and Shug Emery flew down to Sig in Keith's Grumman A5 Tiger last winter to pick up some fuel. Showed Mr. Gretz waving to them on the ground. There is a link to the YouTube video on the forum or you can go to Shug's YouTube channel.

dale gleason · « **Reply #21 on:** January 16, 2016, 11:14:19 AM »

One day I was digging through the internet for information about Charles Lindbergh. I found a website that had information concerning a chest that had been discovered in San Diego. It was part of the estate of the designer/draftsman responsible to a large degree for the Spirit of St. Louis. Many of the original design drawings were contained in that chest. Very informative. The credits at the end of this "documentary" thanked Mike Gretz for his insightful contributions. Curious, I contacted Mike to see if the Lindberg historian was the same Sig model airplane guy we all know. His reply was, yes, guilty as charged.

Mike is one of whom nothing negative could ever be said. We'll all miss him.

dale g

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #22 on:** January 16, 2016, 11:42:17 AM »

I would call Mike Gretz an authority on Lindbergh and aviation history in general. I had many great, enjoyable conversations with him on the subjects and he spent many hours here in St. Louis going through the archives at the History Museum doing research. He knew more about the Robertson family and the Robertson family did! I had always hoped to get with him during one of those excursions here but it never worked out and sorry that it didn't. he is well known to the organizers of the aviation museum here in St. Louis also.
Dan McEntee

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #23 on:** January 16, 2016, 01:53:09 PM »

God Bless Mike and his family...

wwwarbird · « **Reply #24 on:** January 16, 2016, 01:58:36 PM »

I just now came across the update of Mike's passing. From the first report here I had a feeling that this wasn't going to come out well. At the moment I'm hit with that big empty feeling and am simply at a loss for words, there is a lot here to think about. First thing that does come to mind though is that we've lost another true modeling legend, but more than that, a great friend.

My condolences to all of Mike's family, and friends.

builditright · « **Reply #25 on:** January 16, 2016, 06:02:27 PM »

I too never met Mike in person, but spoke with a few times.

Mike was always helpful when he was needed. Godspeed Mike, you will be missed.

My condolences to Mike and all of his family and friends.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #26 on:** January 16, 2016, 08:07:05 PM »

I just got to this and what a shock as I thought he was doing fine. Can't remember when I first met Mike and he was a true modeler and friend. He will be missed.

dave siegler · « **Reply #27 on:** January 17, 2016, 06:06:52 AM »

Quote from: Steve Scott on January 16, 2016, 11:14:04 AM

It would be appreciated if someone posted a short bio on Mike. I met him back in the late '80s at the Puyallup Expo when he brought Sig's new Mike Pratt-designed Skyray 35 out and, of course, saw him at the several Sig CL meets I attended last decade.

Keith Sandberg and Shug Emery flew down to Sig in Keith's Grumman A5 Tiger last winter to pick up some fuel. Showed Mr. Gretz waving to them on the ground. There is a link to the YouTube video on the forum or you can go to Shug's YouTube channel.

AMA history program Mike Gretz info

https://www.modelaircraft.org/files/GretzMike.pdf

I met him thought the SIG control line contests. A wonderful man.

Les McDonald · « **Reply #28 on:** January 17, 2016, 09:33:43 AM »

Quote from: Mike Anderson on January 16, 2016, 08:20:25 AM

I received a message that Mike passed away last night. Rest in peace, my friend.

Damn!

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #29 on:** January 17, 2016, 09:58:44 AM »

http://members.zumatel.net/mdgretz/Chipmunk.htm

The above link is for the Chipmunk history page that Mike has. I'm sure he did one on the other SIG C/L kits that explained their history a bit, but I can not find it. Does anyone have a link to it out there? I'm sure others would like to see it now.
Thanks in advance,
Dan McEntee

Steve Scott · « **Reply #30 on:** January 17, 2016, 03:44:21 PM »

Quote from: dave siegler on January 17, 2016, 06:06:52 AM

AMA history program Mike Gretz info

https://www.modelaircraft.org/files/GretzMike.pdf

I met him thought the SIG control line contests. A wonderful man.

Thanks Dave. Actually I think you and I met at the 2006 Sig CL meet? My son, 14 at the time, beat both of us in Beginner PA.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #31 on:** January 17, 2016, 07:07:44 PM »

Quote from: Dan McEntee on January 17, 2016, 09:58:44 AM

http://members.zumatel.net/mdgretz/Chipmunk.htm

The above link is for the Chipmunk history page that Mike has. I'm sure he did one on the other SIG C/L kits that explained their history a bit, but I can not find it. Does anyone have a link to it out there? I'm sure others would like to see it now.
Thanks in advance,
Dan McEntee

Thanks Dan, that is a GREAT link, very interesting. Hopefully you or someone else here can come up with the rest, I'd love to see them all.

Will Hinton · « **Reply #32 on:** January 17, 2016, 07:13:04 PM »

Does anyone have the particulars on the funeral arrangements yet?

Norm Faith Jr. · « **Reply #33 on:** January 17, 2016, 08:07:09 PM »

His physical presence is no longer with us, but his presence will live in every flight of a Twister...a model airplane with an identity shared with the Ringmaster, a model that many of us flew our first "full pattern" with.
God's speed Mr. Mike Gretz

WR Crane aka MrClean · « **Reply #34 on:** January 18, 2016, 09:19:32 AM »

The fact that knowing we're all gonna go sometime doesn't make it easier on us survivors when one does.
RIP Mike, tight lines.

Steve Scott · « **Reply #35 on:** January 20, 2016, 08:28:44 PM »

Quote from: Will Hinton on January 17, 2016, 07:13:04 PM

Does anyone have the particulars on the funeral arrangements yet?

Information on funeral services for Mike Gretz:

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday January 23, 2016 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 18460 Kachina Ct., Lakeville, MN. Additionally, a memorial will be held on Saturday February 6, 2016 at the Montezuma Memorial Hall, 205 E. Main St., Montezuma, IA.

Below is a blog from Model Airplane News by Gerry Yarrish
http://www.modelairplanenews.com/blog/2016/01/19/michael-david-gretz-january-26-1952-january-15-2016-r-i-p/

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #36 on:** January 21, 2016, 08:19:22 PM »

Quote from: Steve Scott on January 20, 2016, 08:28:44 PM

Information on funeral services for Mike Gretz:

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday January 23, 2016 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 18460 Kachina Ct., Lakeville, MN. Additionally, a memorial will be held on Saturday February 6, 2016 at the Montezuma Memorial Hall, 205 E. Main St., Montezuma, IA.

Below is a blog from Model Airplane News by Gerry Yarrish
http://www.modelairplanenews.com/blog/2016/01/19/michael-david-gretz-january-26-1952-january-15-2016-r-i-p/

Hi Steve;
Do you have any time line on the memorial service? I'm giving some thought to driving up for that if the weather man cooperates a little bit.
Thanks a lot for the information,
Dan McEntee

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #37 on:** January 21, 2016, 09:31:44 PM »

So long Mike. RIP , Brother.
Chris...

Steve Scott · « **Reply #38 on:** January 22, 2016, 06:01:30 PM »

Quote from: Dan McEntee on January 21, 2016, 08:19:22 PM

Hi Steve;
   Do you have any time line on the memorial service? I'm giving some thought to driving up for that if the weather man cooperates a little bit.
   Thanks a lot for the information,
   Dan McEntee

Dan,

Sorry, I do not have info on the Memorial. The information I posted was from the MAN blog. Perhaps if you give a holler to Mike Pratt? I have a cell phone number for him I'll PM to you.

Steve

EDIT: I'll also try to get additional information tomorrow. I'm planning on attending the services in Lakeville. It's only 40 minutes from where I live in the northern Twin Cities suburbs.

EDIT#2: Well, Mike Pratt was there today but I did not have an opportunity to chat with him. I would suggest the best source of information would be to call Sig. Very nice service this morning & well attended.

Steve Scott · « **Reply #39 on:** February 01, 2016, 08:27:55 PM »

Got a txt msg from Keith Sandberg who said Sunday's Memorial service in Montezuma will be 11am.

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #40 on:** February 02, 2016, 04:47:53 PM »

Hi Steve;
Thanks for the update on the time, but is the correct day Saturday or Sunday? Earlier post said Saturday, Feb. 6. Just want to be clear and sure of the date. I'm doing all I can to make the trip and attend.
Thanks a lot,
Dan McEntee

wwwarbird · « **Reply #41 on:** February 02, 2016, 06:22:46 PM »

Mike's memorial service is scheduled for 11:00am Saturday February 6th at the Montezuma Memorial Hall, Montezuma, IA.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/desmoinesregister/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=177403617

Steve Scott · « **Reply #42 on:** February 05, 2016, 04:45:37 PM »

Quote from: Dan McEntee on February 02, 2016, 04:47:53 PM

Hi Steve;
Thanks for the update on the time, but is the correct day Saturday or Sunday? Earlier post said Saturday, Feb. 6. Just want to be clear and sure of the date. I'm doing all I can to make the trip and attend.
Thanks a lot,
Dan McEntee

Yes, Saturday the 6th.

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #43 on:** February 05, 2016, 09:20:11 PM »

   Just winding down here at the Cozy Comfort Inn in Montezuma after the drive up from St. Louis for Mike's memorial service. Got a friend from my R/C sailplane days with me who knew Mike through museum and antique aviation contacts. Weather was good but colder than in St. Louis. Just wanted everyone that knew and loved Mike Gretz that I will try and represent all of you that could not make the trip. I've had more fun here in Montezuma at the SIG contests than I could ever hope to express in a post, including many conversations with Mike about old airplanes, aviation history, and in particular the Spirit of St. Louis and Lindy's flight. I'm sad that we never got the chance to expand on those conversations. Maybe we'll get to do it if I get to the place that I know Mike is right now. I'll post on the memorial when I get back home tomorrow afternoon or evening.
   Off to bed,
   Dan McEntee

wwwarbird · « **Reply #44 on:** February 05, 2016, 09:23:20 PM »

Glad to hear you made the trip Dan, see you tomorrow.

Author Topic: Mike Gretz - Designer of the Twister (Read 11813 times)

Dwayne