Dennis Vander Kuur passed away today

[Michael Schmitt]

Sad to report here that our good Friend and flying buddy Dennis Vander Kuur passed away today. He has been battling illness for a long time. We solved the worlds problems while we traveled from contest to contest for the last 24 years. Best friend a guy could ever have. I will miss him!

[Dave_Trible]

Oh no!   So sorry to hear this about Dennis.   It doesn't seem to me he was all that old either.   A really nice fellow.   Sorry you lost your buddy Mike.

Dave

[Paul Taylor]

So sad to hear this news. It’s was always great when you and Dennis showed up at the Cheezhead fun flys.
He will be missed.

[Crist Rigotti]

He will be missed!  When I was in Iowa starting control line, I'd go to the areas contests.  That's where I met Dennis along with Mike Schmitt, Floyd Layton, Larry Lindburg, and Russ and Randi Gifford.  Sadly also Floyd and Russ have left us too.  Very fond memories of flying and hanging around that group. 

Here's a picture at the 2008 Nats where myself, Dennis, Mike, and Larry all made the cut in Advanced.  It's one of my most favorite pictures.

Clear skies and favorable winds my friend.

[Sina Goudarzi]

So sad to hear this news. such a great flyer and a wonderful person.

RIP my friend,
sina

[James Mills]

So sad to hear this news.  Dennis was a truly a wonderful guy.  I always looked forward to seeing him with Mike at the Nat's, Paducah and the St. Louis contest.  Mike sorry for your loss of such a close friend.  We will be praying for his family and for you as well Mike.

RIP brother,

James, Beth, and Ben

[wwwarbird]

 Wow, very sad news, but thank you Mike. It's been quite some time since I've seen him, and you other guys named here too, but I always considered Dennis one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. I didn't know him nearly as well as you guys, but my observations at contests seemed like he would just kind of quietly hang back socializing and enjoying the day. Then, when it was his turn on deck, he'd casually go out there, fire up, launch, and calmly bang out a rock solid flight putting him at or near the top of the group. No real pomp or pizzaz, just damn good. I offer the most sincere condolences to Dennis' family and all you flying buddies. 

[Dan McEntee]

Sad to report here that our good Friend and flying buddy Dennis Vander Kuur passed away today. He has been battling illness for a long time. We solved the worlds problems while we traveled from contest to contest for the last 24 years. Best friend a guy could ever have. I will miss him!

    Yes, this is sad news, and he was a good friend and flying buddy! It's the people like Denny that are a major reason why I fly stunt and have stuck with it all these years. Dennis was another one of those guys that you are just glad to see when you pulled up to a contest or he pulled up here at ours. Always had a smile on his face and fun to joke around with, but when it came time to fly you knew he was one to be reckoned with! One of the last times he was at our contest he brought out that really cool looking red Albatross profile biplane. He wasn't feeling that well and the first round he forgot some maneuvers, but when his turn came up in the second round, he proceeded to give everyone a spanking with the little red biplane that day!!

    It's a shame to see such nice people like Dennis have to suffer and fight through illnesses but Dennis sure put up a long, hard fight. At least he is at peace and no more pain, but it sure would have been nice to have flown with him one more time.  Please pass on condolences and deepest sympathies to his family and to you also, Mike from my family. I have driven a lot of miles with close friends that are not around anymore and that does leave a hole in your life that is hard to fill.

   Dan McEntee

[Ken Culbertson]

I have driven a lot of miles with close friends that are not around anymore and that does leave a hole in your life that is hard to fill.

   Dan McEntee

I did not know Dennis, I may have met him, but I don't remember it.  When any of our community passes, we all lose a bit of ourselves as well.  The men in my family are either blessed or cursed with longevity.  My grandfather told me when he was entering his 90's that the worst part was not the physical problems, it was watching his lifelong friends pass.  I am still a young 78 by family standards and I am learning what he meant.  Almost all of the group I flew with in the 70's and 80's are gone.

My heart goes out to his family - Ken
 

[Donald Main]

Sorry to hear this Mike. Dennis was a kind man and he will be missed.

[Dave Rigotti]

Very sorry to hear this news.  For me, DQ at Muncie will never be the same.....

[john e. holliday]

This is sad to hear, but we all must go sooner or later.   Rest in peace Dennis.

[Rusty]

Condolences to Family and Friends.   It is better to know them and experience the grief of loss, than not have known them. 

Rusty