Gone but not forgotten.
Paddlers and friends gone but never forgotten.
Paddlers and friends gone but never forgotten.
This website is dedicated to Bill Baumgart of Sioux Center, Iowa, who lost his life while paddling the length of the Missouri river on June 18, 1988. One of his last journal entries reads, “My success this summer will not be so much in arriving in St. Louis but what I learn and take along with me for my journey through life.”
May Bill's message be carried by all paddlers down the Missouri.
Bill's Story:
June 18, 1988 was his last day on earth. He died the next day, according to police. His body was found 9 days later by a local farmer in a whirlpool eddy where Big Muddy Creek meets the Missouri river at mile-1630 upstream from Culbertson, Montana. He was not wearing a life jacket. Who was he? He was a long distance paddler named Bill Baumgart from Sioux Center, Iowa and was canoeing solo from Three Forks, Montana to St. Louis. He was a great friend according to some of his high school buddies I recently tracked down. He loved canoeing, the outdoors and had a strong faith in god and loved the Beatles music.
Police suspect that he died the morning of the 19th. They did not know who he was when they found his lifeless body. Police flew planes and power boated upstream to see if they could find anything. About a mile and ½ upstream was a canoe on shore, fully packed and ready to go. He had camped there according to police by the evidence in the sand and a fire ring. His boat sat on shore nearly a week before his body was recovered downstream. Why do they think he died on the 19th? In his boat was found his well written journal about his descent from Three Forks over the past month. Tales of wind and storms, beautiful sceanary and amazing wildlife along the way. All of you long distance paddlers can probably relate to what he had written. It’s probably very similar to your very own journals. His final entry was June 18th---30-years ago today. When I first discovered this tragic story of an Iowa farm boy I wanted to know more about him. I knew he was just like all my other paddling brothers and sisters who have ventured down the Missouri to St. Louis. He would easily be one of us, a member of the Missouri River Paddlers group. He'd fit in well.
Also found in his canoe were several letters he had written to friends that most likely he was intending to mail once he found a post office. One was to his good buddy named Verlyn and his wife Barb. It was dated June 17th...day 29 of his trip. Verlyn shared the original letter with me over the winter. It was so hard to read. Not because there was bad things written, but because of knowing that his fantastic journey would soon end and he would never again be able to tell tales of the Missouri river to his family and friends. Bill writes, “Greetings From The Big Sky!”, followed by some chit chat between friends then, “The trip is going very well, and so far all that I expected. I’m about 606 miles out from the Forks, were it began. The first 8 days were spent going north out of the Rockies--Beautiful. The ‘Gates of the Mountains’ wilderness was quite impressive. Also the Wild & Scenic River past Ft. Benton is worth taking a trip through. There are times when you see aboslutly no one for a couple of days at a shot, and other times, like at Ft. Peck, where I’ve met so many people it is very difficult to remember the events to copy down. A good Experience so far.” He later mentions to his friend in the letter that he later hopes to meet his friend Pete when he passes through Omaha and possibly camping with him on Wilson Island near DeSoto Bend later in the summer.
I’ve told a few of the members in this group about this tragic story. We all wondered what had happened and why. His close friends said he was a lousy swimmer and had tried to teach him to swim but with no luck. They were all surprised his life jacket was in the canoe and not on his body. Reading over the stories in the newspaper and letters from friends, he somehow ended up in the water for some reason. I thought about this most of the winter and concluded that possibly he was getting ready to depart that fateful morning of June 19th, canoe was packed, he walked around camp and made a final check when the wind came up and blew his map/case in the river where he jumped in after it. I don’t know, it’s all speculation, but knowing his lack of swimming skills and a canoe ready to go, what would make you get in the water but none other than something important also ending up in the water. We will never really know. Police did not suspect foul play due to his tracks being the only ones in the sand.
Bill was no novice to canoeing. He had spent time with friends in the Boundary Waters in N. Minnesota during past summers. During the previous summer before his death (1987), he did a shack-down descent from Pierre, South Dakota to Sioux City to get himself honed and to test all his gear. That same summer while paddling through Chamberlain, SD he met expedition kayaker Karl Adam on his now famous first crossing of the US from Pacific to the Atlantic by kayak. They camped together in Chamberlain and Karl spoke fondly of Bill. Karl Adam’s went on to write a book, “Wake of the Wind Dancer”, and mentions his time spent with Bill and his sadness upon hearing his loss the following year.
Bill’s 107 page journal resides with his parents in Iowa along with his canoe. On June 13, 1988, day 25 of his expedition, being windbound for the 3rd consecutive days 13 miles west of Ft. Peck dam he wrote, “My success this summer will not be so much in arriving in St. Louis but what I learn and take along with me for my journey through life.”
Bill Baumgart said it so perfectly. I’ve told many paddlers in the past before they departed down the Missouri river that it’s never about paddling to St. Louis, and it’s so true. The river and the journey just gets the ball rolling for whatever is in store for your life. So for all you paddlers on the Missouri river this summer and those in the future, lets remember Bill’s message as you begin your journey.
From this day forward, I proclaim June 19th as the “Bill Baumgart Memorial Paddle Day”. Bill never made it to St. Louis, so let’s carry his memory forward to St. Louis so that he can complete it in spirit. Bill would have been a great asset to our paddling group. I miss him, and I never even met him.
Paddle on Bill!
Regards,
Norm Miller MRP founder.
Livingston, Montana
June 18, 1988 was his last day on earth. He died the next day, according to police. His body was found 9 days later by a local farmer in a whirlpool eddy where Big Muddy Creek meets the Missouri river at mile-1630 upstream from Culbertson, Montana. He was not wearing a life jacket. Who was he? He was a long distance paddler named Bill Baumgart from Sioux Center, Iowa and was canoeing solo from Three Forks, Montana to St. Louis. He was a great friend according to some of his high school buddies I recently tracked down. He loved canoeing, the outdoors and had a strong faith in god and loved the Beatles music.
Police suspect that he died the morning of the 19th. They did not know who he was when they found his lifeless body. Police flew planes and power boated upstream to see if they could find anything. About a mile and ½ upstream was a canoe on shore, fully packed and ready to go. He had camped there according to police by the evidence in the sand and a fire ring. His boat sat on shore nearly a week before his body was recovered downstream. Why do they think he died on the 19th? In his boat was found his well written journal about his descent from Three Forks over the past month. Tales of wind and storms, beautiful sceanary and amazing wildlife along the way. All of you long distance paddlers can probably relate to what he had written. It’s probably very similar to your very own journals. His final entry was June 18th---30-years ago today. When I first discovered this tragic story of an Iowa farm boy I wanted to know more about him. I knew he was just like all my other paddling brothers and sisters who have ventured down the Missouri to St. Louis. He would easily be one of us, a member of the Missouri River Paddlers group. He'd fit in well.
Also found in his canoe were several letters he had written to friends that most likely he was intending to mail once he found a post office. One was to his good buddy named Verlyn and his wife Barb. It was dated June 17th...day 29 of his trip. Verlyn shared the original letter with me over the winter. It was so hard to read. Not because there was bad things written, but because of knowing that his fantastic journey would soon end and he would never again be able to tell tales of the Missouri river to his family and friends. Bill writes, “Greetings From The Big Sky!”, followed by some chit chat between friends then, “The trip is going very well, and so far all that I expected. I’m about 606 miles out from the Forks, were it began. The first 8 days were spent going north out of the Rockies--Beautiful. The ‘Gates of the Mountains’ wilderness was quite impressive. Also the Wild & Scenic River past Ft. Benton is worth taking a trip through. There are times when you see aboslutly no one for a couple of days at a shot, and other times, like at Ft. Peck, where I’ve met so many people it is very difficult to remember the events to copy down. A good Experience so far.” He later mentions to his friend in the letter that he later hopes to meet his friend Pete when he passes through Omaha and possibly camping with him on Wilson Island near DeSoto Bend later in the summer.
I’ve told a few of the members in this group about this tragic story. We all wondered what had happened and why. His close friends said he was a lousy swimmer and had tried to teach him to swim but with no luck. They were all surprised his life jacket was in the canoe and not on his body. Reading over the stories in the newspaper and letters from friends, he somehow ended up in the water for some reason. I thought about this most of the winter and concluded that possibly he was getting ready to depart that fateful morning of June 19th, canoe was packed, he walked around camp and made a final check when the wind came up and blew his map/case in the river where he jumped in after it. I don’t know, it’s all speculation, but knowing his lack of swimming skills and a canoe ready to go, what would make you get in the water but none other than something important also ending up in the water. We will never really know. Police did not suspect foul play due to his tracks being the only ones in the sand.
Bill was no novice to canoeing. He had spent time with friends in the Boundary Waters in N. Minnesota during past summers. During the previous summer before his death (1987), he did a shack-down descent from Pierre, South Dakota to Sioux City to get himself honed and to test all his gear. That same summer while paddling through Chamberlain, SD he met expedition kayaker Karl Adam on his now famous first crossing of the US from Pacific to the Atlantic by kayak. They camped together in Chamberlain and Karl spoke fondly of Bill. Karl Adam’s went on to write a book, “Wake of the Wind Dancer”, and mentions his time spent with Bill and his sadness upon hearing his loss the following year.
Bill’s 107 page journal resides with his parents in Iowa along with his canoe. On June 13, 1988, day 25 of his expedition, being windbound for the 3rd consecutive days 13 miles west of Ft. Peck dam he wrote, “My success this summer will not be so much in arriving in St. Louis but what I learn and take along with me for my journey through life.”
Bill Baumgart said it so perfectly. I’ve told many paddlers in the past before they departed down the Missouri river that it’s never about paddling to St. Louis, and it’s so true. The river and the journey just gets the ball rolling for whatever is in store for your life. So for all you paddlers on the Missouri river this summer and those in the future, lets remember Bill’s message as you begin your journey.
From this day forward, I proclaim June 19th as the “Bill Baumgart Memorial Paddle Day”. Bill never made it to St. Louis, so let’s carry his memory forward to St. Louis so that he can complete it in spirit. Bill would have been a great asset to our paddling group. I miss him, and I never even met him.
Paddle on Bill!
Regards,
Norm Miller MRP founder.
Livingston, Montana
Jim B. Kurz: 1945- 2023: Ladysmith, Wisconsin. Jim tragically died while doing what he loved--traveling by canoe. Jim lost his life near Cow Island, in the Missouri Breaks National Monument on June 8th, 2023. Jim was paddling from Kipp Recreation area upstream to the Gist Homestead at Bullwacker Creek. On June 6th, he stopped and stayed at the Heller Cabin and signed the guest register there. On June 8th he met paddler Bill Burke who was descending the river from Three Forks, Mt to St. Louis. The two men stopped along the shore and chatted about each others journeys. Jim had told Bill that in 2005, that he paddled from his home in Wisconsin, across Minnesota and South Dakota to Sioux City, Iowa, where Jim then paddled up the entire Missouri river to Three Forks, Montana. This was followed up later after he finished with a descent down the Yellowstone River to the confluence with the Missouri. Jim wrote a book about his adventure entitled, "Out My Backyard".
Jim was the third of six children, born in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, on Feb. 27, 1945, to parents Jerry and Annette (Brekke) Kurz. He graduated from John Edwards High School as valedictorian in 1963, where he excelled in baseball and basketball, and held school records in high jump and discus. He then went to college at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he met his future wife Janet Thompson.
Jim graduated with a B.S. in Molecular Biology in 1967, and then served two years in the Peace Corps in Cali, Colombia with his wife Jan. Upon return, he earned a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where his son Nathan was born. He then did postdoctoral work at the University of Colorado in Denver, birthplace of his daughter Polly. From there he followed his lab group to the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where he did medical research into cures for Cystic Fibrosis.
In 1985 the family moved to Ladysmith where he became a Professor at Mount Senario College. He taught Chemistry and Biology while his wife Jan taught math. After that, Jim was a father, adventurer, hunter, fisherman, gardener, logger, painter, handy man, writer, mentor, teacher, and coach. Throughout his life he was a considerable athlete, playing in softball leagues on his arrival to Ladysmith, sand volleyball in summer leagues and tournaments through his 60's, and weekly basketball in a recreational league into his 70's. Until his death he competed in local horseshoe and golf leagues.
Jim was a dedicated gardener, and a cornerstone of the Rusk County Farmers' Market. Through hunting, fishing, and gardening, he was able to live very frugally while still donating time and money to numerous causes and nonprofits. He was an avid environmentalist and outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, and especially canoeing. He took solo trips by canoe from his backyard on the Flambeau River all the way to Montana and the middle of Ontario, Canada. He detailed these trips in three books - Out My Backyard: Canoeing West From Wisconsin (2009); We Were On The Missouri, 2005 (2007); and Navigating North: Canoeing To Ontario From Wisconsin (2012).
Jim was extremely active in so many local organizations, including KAMO (Kids and Mentors Outdoors), the Ice Age Trail Alliance, and Friends of the Library. He was proud to be quoted in the New York Times in 2020 for leading Get Out the Vote efforts as chair of the Rusk County Dems, and to have led the construction of the Anishinaabe Exhibit Building at the Rusk County Historical Museum. In his retirement he taught science courses at the North Cedar Academy, groomed and maintained the Sisters' Farm trails for the Ladysmith Area Trail Association, and drove for Rusk County Community Transit. Most recently Jim spearheaded the Library Foundation's effort to install solar power arrays at the Rusk County Community Library, the first public building in Ladysmith to have solar power.
Jim is survived by his son Nathan Kurz and partner Emily Cooper of Readsboro, Vermont; by his daughter Polly Kurz of Saint Ann, Missouri; by his ex-wife Janet (Thompson) Kurz of Ladysmith; by his brother Jordan of Minnesota; by his brother Jon and sister Ann both of Colorado; and by numerous nieces and nephews and cousins around the country and world. He will be missed.
If you would like to read a copy of Jim Kurz book, Out My Backyard, they can be purchased here at a reduced rate to cover postage and handling. The remaining funds will be used to create (still in the works at figuring it out), either a memorial plaque, tree planting dedication, and maintenance of this website. The total cost for the book including shipping is $10. Email the moderator for details: Email
Images Below by Jim Kurz & Norm Miller. Click to enlarge and hover to read captions.
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Aaron Duenke: 1988-2022
Aaron tragically died on the Missouri river two days after Christmas in 2022. He was working part time for Paddle Stop New Haven and had been a participant in the Mo340 race across Missouri on a hand made paddle board of his making. Aaron also attended the 2022 Missouri River Paddlers Rendezvous in Ft. Randall, SD. |
Bjorn Braaten: 1941-2021. Norwegian Bjorn Braaten and kayak partner Kaare Anderson paddled from Astoria, Oregon to New Orleans in 1963. He compiled a book on their journey which is written in Norwegian. There are more details of their journey in the Expedition Database under the year 1963, including old newspaper accounts and photos of their trip.
Mark "Broz" Brozovich" 1951-2021
Mark paddled the upper Missouri river through Montana in 2015. After a few mishaps he felt the long expedition was not in the cards. Mark was the nicest guy you could ever meet. He was a gentle giant at 6' 5" tall. Mark had been living in Japan the past few years with his wife, teaching English. Mark loved the outdoors and being in nature. Mark died in a sudden rock climbing accident on Feb 10, 2021. He will be missed by many and forgotten by few.
Obituary
Mark paddled the upper Missouri river through Montana in 2015. After a few mishaps he felt the long expedition was not in the cards. Mark was the nicest guy you could ever meet. He was a gentle giant at 6' 5" tall. Mark had been living in Japan the past few years with his wife, teaching English. Mark loved the outdoors and being in nature. Mark died in a sudden rock climbing accident on Feb 10, 2021. He will be missed by many and forgotten by few.
Obituary
Joe Wilson: 1942- 2016
Joe Wilson created a legendary city park in Jefferson City and became friends with many paddlers on the Missouri river. The park, now known as Joe Wilson's Serenity Park at Noreen Access is a must visit destination during your journey down the river. Joe's love for the park shows in all the wonderful plants and flowers he planted. Joe was a river angel to many long distance paddlers and often helped out with races such as the Mo340 and the Race to the Dome. Joe was a huge supporter of rescuing dogs from the local shelter. He was often seen at the park picking up garbage, talking to paddlers and running some of his dogs. Sadly Joe died after a battle with cancer in 2016. Paddlers often gather at Serenity Point for paddling events and reflect on the man who created such a wonderful setting.
Joe will be missed but never forgotten.
As Joe would often say, "See you at the river"
Article on the renaming of the park after Joe: Click Here.
Click the photos below to see some of Joe's river family.
Joe Wilson created a legendary city park in Jefferson City and became friends with many paddlers on the Missouri river. The park, now known as Joe Wilson's Serenity Park at Noreen Access is a must visit destination during your journey down the river. Joe's love for the park shows in all the wonderful plants and flowers he planted. Joe was a river angel to many long distance paddlers and often helped out with races such as the Mo340 and the Race to the Dome. Joe was a huge supporter of rescuing dogs from the local shelter. He was often seen at the park picking up garbage, talking to paddlers and running some of his dogs. Sadly Joe died after a battle with cancer in 2016. Paddlers often gather at Serenity Point for paddling events and reflect on the man who created such a wonderful setting.
Joe will be missed but never forgotten.
As Joe would often say, "See you at the river"
Article on the renaming of the park after Joe: Click Here.
Click the photos below to see some of Joe's river family.
Verlen Kruger 1922-2004: Arguably the greatest expedition paddler of all time. His passion for paddling and extensive knowledge and experience was gained from paddling over 100,000 miles (more than any other man in the world) and creating over 40 different canoe prototypes. A World War II veteran, plumber, photographer, author, lecturer, and father of nine children, Verlen was an adventurer at heart and a true visionary for canoe design and craftsmanship.
His legacy has inspired many people throughout the world.
In 1980, Verlen and Steve Landick departed from the upper Missouri river watershed on the Red Rock river. They made an historic 37-day descent down the entire Missouri river to the confluence with the Mississippi. Dubbed the Ultimate Canoe Challenge (UCC), they continued on for 3-years and 28,000 miles throughout North America. The UCC would become the longest paddling expedition ever undertaken by anyone. Verlen would later paddle from the northern Canadian Arctic, to the tip of Cape Horn, South America. Verlen held the world record for descending the Mississippi river from source to sea on two occasions, a 23 day and 24 day descent. For his 80th birthday, he paddled the length of the Yukon river with his wife and several friends. His custom built expedition canoes are world renown. His boats have been used by 10-paddlers in the MoRP for their Missouri river expeditions. Verlen was a personal friend of Norm Miller, the creator of the Missouri River Paddlers group. Miller has said, "I wouldn't have done a single paddling expedition if it wasn't for the inspiration and encouragement I received from Verlen." A life size bronze sculpture was erected in his honor in 2010 and stands along the Grand River in Portland, Michigan.
Click the images below to enlarge.
His legacy has inspired many people throughout the world.
In 1980, Verlen and Steve Landick departed from the upper Missouri river watershed on the Red Rock river. They made an historic 37-day descent down the entire Missouri river to the confluence with the Mississippi. Dubbed the Ultimate Canoe Challenge (UCC), they continued on for 3-years and 28,000 miles throughout North America. The UCC would become the longest paddling expedition ever undertaken by anyone. Verlen would later paddle from the northern Canadian Arctic, to the tip of Cape Horn, South America. Verlen held the world record for descending the Mississippi river from source to sea on two occasions, a 23 day and 24 day descent. For his 80th birthday, he paddled the length of the Yukon river with his wife and several friends. His custom built expedition canoes are world renown. His boats have been used by 10-paddlers in the MoRP for their Missouri river expeditions. Verlen was a personal friend of Norm Miller, the creator of the Missouri River Paddlers group. Miller has said, "I wouldn't have done a single paddling expedition if it wasn't for the inspiration and encouragement I received from Verlen." A life size bronze sculpture was erected in his honor in 2010 and stands along the Grand River in Portland, Michigan.
Click the images below to enlarge.
Walt Birmingham 1954 - 2016 Walt was a huge supporter of the river community. Walt lived in Chamois, Missouri which provided great access to the river and it's paddlers. Walt was often found in his boat helping the regional races such as the Mo340 and the Missouri River Relief.