JACK KETTLER 1949 - 1981 PILOT SLC DEN With deep regret to inform you of the Gone West of Capt. Jack Kettler early this morning. No other information at this time. Regretfully, -Ace Avakian (2/10/03) Dody called me this morning and said Jack passed away at 1300 last night. Three days ago I talked to him and he wanted two more books. I sent them on to him and he gave them to someone before he died. Jack gave away more than fifty books. His funeral will be Sat. at 1100 at the fairgrounds in the Cow Palace. I've sent the funeral info to Ace. -Tex Searle (2/10/03) Thanks Capt'n Tex, We'll miss old "Omar" a lot... Blue Skies & Tailwinds... -Billy Walker (2/10/03) Cheryl and I will host one in his honor this evening. Jack was such a pleasure to be with. I have a photo of Jack backing out of a Boeing 247 when he was a mechanic with Inland Airlines. My Dad thought a lot of Jack too. George Graham used to buzz Jack at Manville (Phuqarwi) and drop him the morning paper. This was after George retired from FAL and flew a Cessna 402 between BIL and DEN. I would bet we could all tell a story about Jack and end up with a heck of a book about him. Blue Skies & Tailwinds... -Billy & Cheryl Walker (2/10/03) Send any photos I can use for Jack's obit page and a copy of the obit too if you get one. Thanks, -Jake Lamkins (2/11/03) Hopefully you will get some good pictures from some of the pilots of Captain Jack Kettler. I wish more folks would post memories of the man. -Jim Baumann (2/13/03) I just had a message left for me from Omar's daughter stating that he had passed away on Feb. 10. He had been suffering the effects of prostate cancer for some time. A great pilot, gentleman, and friend. I was with Omar on a memorable flight when he recovered from a windshear on an improved climb takeoff (heavy)on 35L at DEN. It was in the early 70s before windshear or microburst were words. On rotation we lost 20-25 kts. Omar did the perfect maneuver as taught today and we finally gained a couple of hundred feet about 5 miles North. A real cushion biter. A couple of years later CAL hit a shear on the same runway and put it in the dirt. You will be missed Omar. -Jim Currie (2/20/03) Jack Kettler's obit was sent to me by my friend Chief Judge, Alan Johnson, Cheyenne. Alan is Captain Ralph Johnson's son. Ralph is 97 and still flying! He doesn't wear glasses and drives at night. Pretty soon I will have to call him to catch a ride somewhere... He and Jack knew each other very well beginning in the '30's. Blue Skies & Tailwinds... -Billy Walker (3/6/03) J L KETTLER Pilot seniority date of 3/5/49 on the 9/1/72 FL/ALPA seniority list. He retired on a medical in 1981 per Tex Searle in his book, Golden Age Of Flying. Jack is mentioned numerous times in the book -Jake Lamkins (2/10/09) You might have already gone into this. If you enter Jack L. Kettler on search, then bring up Niobrara County Library, you'll find information on Jack's death and other INFO. I sent my publisher an e-mail as to why they should give you permission to take from the book what is needed; for the great thing you are doing. -Tex Searle (2/10/09) Hi Tex, I checked it out and most of the info is already on Jack's webpage. I'll update his webpage tho. Thanks for your permission to use excerpts from your book. I'll look for Kettler stuff in your book to add to his page. -Jake Lamkins (2/11/09) JACK L KETTLER Born 12 Jul 1922 Died 10 Feb 2003 Age 80 At 82227 - Manville, WY SSN issued in Wyoming -SSDI (2/21/09) Photos of Jack from 1964 reprinted with permission from the book FROM THE COCKPIT TO THE GALLEY by Bonnie C. Dahl and Patty A. McNeill. -Jake Lamkins (4/28/13) Posted at FLacebook and the FL Club: SLC DEN pilot Jack Kettler's memorial webpage has been updated. http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Jack_Kettler.html Several photos added. -Jake Lamkins (4/29/13) Omar! He would never say how he got that nickname! -Jack McLaughlin (4/30/13)