Captain Robert W. Cummings, age 78 of Seminole, FL, took his last flight heaven bound from Suncoast Hospice, Palm Harbor, FL on October 13, 2018 surrounded by loving family and friends. Bob succumbed to complications associated with Alzheimer’s.
Captain John Carlson, age 84, passed away on Dec. 22, 1018 following a fall at home. He was born in Litchfield, MN to Clarence and Mary Donnelly, their only child. John’s father was in the tire business, which included aircraft tires. This led to John taking his first airplane ride at age four in an early all metal cabin aircraft at the St. Cloud (MN) Municipal Airport. The family has a wonderful photo of him, clad in a short pants suit complete with matching cap, leaning on the steps as if he owned the aircraft! John knew then that he would fly someday.
Ca
ptain Barry James, age 85, of Prior Lake, formerly of Red Lodge, passed away November 23, 2018. Barry was born in Portland, Oregon to Jesse and Sue James on April 17, 1933. In his youth, Barry had an adventurous spirit—exploring his grandparent’s apple orchard and riding his horse to school.
Following his high school graduation, Barry continued his education at Portland State before enlisting in the United States Air Force [as an Aviation Cadet. During his Air Force service Barry flew the F-86 in Europe.] Employing his knowledge and enthusiasm for flying,
Richard ‘Dick’ Gronning
Captain Richard ‘Dick’ Gronning, age 78, of Northfield, MN passed away Thursday, February 21 at the V.A. Medical Center in Minneapolis after a battle with cancer. He is preceded in death by his daughter-in-law, Sun Wells-Gronning.
Dick was the son of Ole Gronning and Violet Maresh of Racine, WI. He was a member of Racine’s Washington Park High School’s class of 1958 and graduated from Carthage College class of 1963. Carthage College is a Lutheran School in Kenosha, WI. 1963 was a big year for Dick, it was also the year he married Sigrid Stephan.
Captain Greg Gillies passed away on January 12, 2019. Born in Boston, MA on March 06, 1939, Greg spent most of his childhood in Greenwich, Connecticut. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame.
After Notre Dame, Greg served in the U.S. Air Force. He earned his wings with pilot training class 62F at Moody AFB, along with NWA pilot Fred Breitling. Greg was assigned to a TAC C-130 squadron at Evreux – Fauville Air Base, France until 1964 and thereafter stationed at Lockbourne, AFB, OH.