Names and dates of this crash we

Names and dates of this crash were omitted at the request of the family. This is why all those involved with SADR believe so strongly in what we do. Many lives are impacted when a tragedy such as this happens.

My husband died due to injuries sustained in a snowmobile crash during the 2005-2006 snowmobile season. He was 46 years old. He was a loving husband to me and a loving father to our two daughters who are 17 and 25. He was a wonderful grandfather to his two grandchildren who are 3 and 5. He was looked up to by all of the children at the school where he worked. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed many activities that our state has to offer. Unfortunately alcohol was a part of most all of these pass-times, not just snowmobiling. And he was not alone. There is a whole culture of people who think that drinking and having a good time go hand in hand. It will be very difficult for you to shake this mentality from the riders of Wisconsin. The worst thing is that it's getting passed on down to the children of these riders. I was not a rider, but both of our daughters love it. When their dad was out on the trails with them, he drove responsibly. When he was without them he drank. It's common for these riders to go from bar to bar having several drinks at each stop. My girls have both seen it first hand and so have I. It's a problem not just for those who drink, but also for those who don't. Add speed and night riding to it and you have the worst possible combination. They call these situations accidents. I'm not so sure. An accident is when something happens that's beyond your control. You have the ability not to drink, so I'm not sure how it can be considered an accident.

He leaves behind a daughter that won't have her dad with her when she graduates high school this spring, goes to college this fall, walks down the aisle and has children. He leaves behind a daughter that won't have her dad with her when she needs him. He leaves behind two grandchildren who will only remember him from photographs because they were so young when he died. He leaves behind a wife who won't have him around for all the things that she took for granted all these years. He leaves behind friends who will miss his great sense of humor and the fact that you could count on him for any favor. He leaves behind a school full of children that will miss his easy smile and friendly demeanor. He leaves behind a life not fully lived and the all the unknown possibilities that went with it.