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New York Post
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Indiana man who died in plane crash wrote own comedic obit: ‘I am completely dead now'
Author of his own fate. An Indiana man wrote a darkly funny obituary for himself, which was published after he died in a crash involving his homemade plane. Gary Wolflet, 72, fatally crashed his self-made single-engine Express 2000 FT plane in Ohio on May 5, and though he was perhaps not prepared for the accident, he was ready for the inevitable, according to a report from WXIN. Advertisement 3 Gary Wolflet wrote his own obituary that was released after he was killed in a plane crash in Ohio on May 5, 2025. Soller-Baker Funeral Homes 'Hello. I am Gary. I am completely dead now. I am surprised that it took this long to happen,' the deceased man wrote. 'I had several close calls throughout my lifetime. I guess that I was just lucky that something didn't get me long before now.' Advertisement Wolfelt then chronicled a series of cartoonish close calls that occurred over the course of his life — including taking a baseball to the head as a Little Leaguer, being kicked in the stomach by his sister's horse Cricket, getting hit by a car, narrowly escaping a falling chimney, and taking a spill down a flight of stairs while holding a concrete-lined safe that landed on his chest. After that last fall, Wolfelt said he was forced to go to a doctor who discovered he had prostate cancer — 'I had just dodged another bullet.' 'I cannot tell you here what sort of event actually killed me as I wrote this obituary before I was completely dead. Someone else will have to fill in the details later on I guess,' he added, not knowing he'd end up leaving this life doing one of his favorite things. 3 First responders gather near the scene of the plane crash in Ashland County, Ohio on May 5, 2025. FOX 59 Advertisement In a heartwarming turn in the comedic obit, the amateur aviator also laid out his 'most important accomplishments.' 'I stayed lovingly married to the same woman for a long time. I cut about 100 cords of firewood. I fixed a lot of problems for a lot of people over the last fifty years. I paid all of my bills with my own earnings. I only took welfare (Social Security) after I retired,' he stated simply. Wolfelt didn't want children, so instead he and his wife Esther had dogs — which he admitted to liking more than 'most people that I came into contact with throughout my lifetime.' Advertisement Still, he made sure to show his gratitude to those of the humankind whom he did like. 'I would like to thank those of you who loved me while I was here on Earth. It really meant a lot to me. And I appreciate your letting me love you right back,' he wrote. In a P.S., Wolfelt cleared the record on his voting history, writing, 'I also want you to know that I didn't intentionally vote for any socialists during my lifetime.' 'So I am not the least bit responsible for the mess that America is in at the moment.' The prolific posthumous penman said he wouldn't have a funeral, adding, 'In lieu of flowers, please keep the money and take yourself out for a nice dinner or do something nice for someone else.' 'Good bye and Peace. I am hanging up now,' Wolflet concluded. 3 Officials investigate the field where the single-engine plane crashed, killing Wolflet. FOX 59 Wolflet is survived by his wife Esther, three brothers and sisters, and several nieces and nephews, according to an addendum written by Esther. Advertisement 'Hopefully if there is a life after death, I will end up with Esther and all of our dogs in a sunny field of tall grass with music playing all around me. It was music that made me the happiest most of my life,' he wrote. Even in his death, Wolfelt left an impact. Dozens of strangers signed the guestbook section of his obituary, heaping on praise over his autobiographical obit.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Haunting beyond-the-grave obituary of Indiana man who predicted his own death
An Indiana man published his own obituary detailing his many near-death experiences after he was killed in a plane crash. Gary Wolfelt, 72, was killed on May 5 after his 'beloved' single-engine Express 2000 FT plane that he spent 17 years perfecting crashed in Ashland, Ohio. People rarely get the chance to write their own obituaries, but the Lafayette native had his ready to go because of 'several close calls' he experienced in his life. 'Hello. I am Gary. I am completely dead now. I am surprised that it took this long to happen,' the late pilot joked in the opening of his obituary. 'I had several close calls throughout my lifetime. I guess that I was just lucky that something didn't get me long before now,' he added. Not only did Gary mention that he believed he should have been dead 'long ago,' but he also shared examples of just how close he had come to the end of his life. One of his oldest memories was when he got whacked in the head with a fly ball during a baseball game as a little boy. Sadly, his injury did not pay off for his team, who went 0-20 all season, he quipped. When Gary was in his 20s he was kicked by his sister's horse directly in his gut, and he claimed that if the animal had aimed any higher his 'heart probably would have stopped.' A decade later he was hit by a car, an incident that he said was completely his fault. 'It was my fault as I was crossing against the light. It really knocked me hell bent for election. But I got up and brushed it off and went home with a torn up coat and kind of sore,' he recalled, adding: 'Lucky me!' While demolishing an old neglected building in his 40s, the structure came crashing down on Gary while he was inside tying off a cable, he said. Luckily for him, a massive brick chimney that fell down just missed him by approximately 10ft. After about 40 years on earth, and several close calls, Gary said he started to believe there wasn't 'any more room in heaven or hell for me' so he had to be 'stuck in purgatory for a while longer.' Just when he thought he was safe, he was pinned to the floor after falling down 19 stairs at his office when a 100lb safe landed directly on top of him in his 50s. Gary said: 'That one was the worst! I didn't get any body parts broken and no internal injuries. But I couldn't even pick up my own feet to get into bed for about a week. Thank god for pain killing drugs!' In his 60s Gary, who was the owner and president of Wolfelt Electronic Security for 27 years, fell backward 10ft off a scaffold and cracked his skull open on the pavement. He got checked out at a doctor's office after, where he found out he had prostate cancer. Fortunately, the cancer was caught early enough to be treated, Gary said, adding that he 'dodged another bullet.' The treatment only lasted so long, as he had to have his prostate removed in his 70s. Although the surgery went well, Gary unfortunately developed an 'internal leak' that nearly took his life. 'One more close call late in life!,' he said, noting that he has no idea what will actually kill him. 'I cannot tell you here what sort of event actually killed me as I wrote this obituary before I was completely dead. Someone else will have to fill in the details later on I guess,' he continued. After detailing his many near-death experiences, Gary kept the rest of his obituary light-hearted, apologizing to those he 'might have offended or mistreated.' 'The truth is that I was far from a perfect human, although I did try to learn from my mistakes and short-comings as I grew older,' he went on. Gary made sure to mention his family, including his wife Esther Chosnek, who he met 'sometime in January of 1982 in Las Vegas, Nevada,' he wrote. He noted that he did not want a funeral and asked people to take themselves out to dinner in lieu of flowers. At the end of his unique obituary, he let Esther get a word in. She added some of his accomplishments, including her late husband being a graduate of Purdue school of Aviation Technology. A celebration of life is set to be held for Gary on May 19th.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘I am completely dead now': Indiana man's humorous, self-written obit reflects on brushes with death
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WXIN) — It isn't every day someone gets to write their own obituary, let alone one filled with this much wit and humor. But Gary Wolfelt knew one day he would meet his maker. He had had too many close calls not to see the writing on the wall. When at last the time came and Gary found the Grim Reaper calling his number, he was ready. 'I am completely dead now,' Gary wrote in his obituary. 'I am surprised that it took this long to happen.' Wolfelt died in a small plane crash in Ohio on May 5. The 72-year-old from Lafayette was the only person in the single-engine Express 2000 FT plane. Gary built the plane himself, according to his wife, Esther, part of a 17-year endeavor. MLB reinstates Pete Rose and 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson, now eligible for the Hall of Fame But it's not Gary's death that has people talking. It's his life, and the way Gary was given the rare opportunity to announce not only his own death, but also give a summary of his long, fruitful life. A life Gary felt could've ended a half dozen times over. 'I had several close calls throughout my lifetime. I guess that I was just lucky that something didn't get me long before now,' Gary wrote in his unique and humorous obit. He described a 'long series of events and mishaps' which he believes 'should have killed me long ago.' These close calls include a fly ball to the noggin in Little League (his team going a miserable 0-20), a horse kick that nearly left him singing soprano, a brick chimney that almost crushed him flat and a long fall down down a set of stairs with a safe racing down behind him. 'Thank goodness for pain killing drugs!' Gary exclaimed. Gary lovingly and jokingly reflected on his family, pondering if his sister had anything to do with that horse-kicking incident. He apologized to his sixth-grade classmates and reflects on failing math class, which he attributed to the aforementioned fly ball to the head. Never having kids of his own, Gary mused on his love of dogs over people. 'Generally a dog will only bite you when you have it coming. This is not the case with many people.' Among his proudest accomplishments, Gary listed staying lovingly married to his wife for over 40 years. 'Goodbye and Peace. I am hanging up now,' Gary wrote, signing off for the final time. Well, not without a little suggestion about how to best celebrate his life. 'Heroic': Oklahoma men rush towards burning truck to save lives 'In accordance with my wishes, there will be no funeral. I don't want people coming by to look at me all dressed up and stretched out in an expensive box looking as bad as I will probably look in a completely dead condition…. Maybe after a while some of my friends might get together and have a party on my behalf. I will try to remember to have a nice full size stand up cardboard cutout of me available for the event. I am pretty sure someone will want to claim it for a dart board afterwords.' Read Gary's full obituary for yourself by clicking here. Esther did add that her husband was the owner and president of Wolfelt Electronic Security for nearly three decades and had attended Purdue for aviation technology. Gary had also built and flown a helicopter before building his fixed wing airplane. Instead of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to area animal rescues in Gary's honor. A celebration of life is scheduled for next week in Lafayette, Indiana. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Investigators looking into why a plane crashed in Ashland County, killing pilot
Investigators are still trying to learn why a private airplane crashed Monday in Ashland County. The weather is a leading suspect, according to Todd Gunther, an air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board. "As you know, it was rainy that day," Gunther said Wednesday during a press conference. "We do have meteorologists from our staff, at our headquarters currently, that are looking at the weather conditions at the time of the accident." The plane went down about 7:42 p.m. Monday in a wooded area near the intersection of Ohio 89 and Jackson Township Road 902 in rural Ashland County. Gary Wolfelt, 72, of West Lafayette, Indiana, was found dead in the wreckage. He was the pilot and the only person on board. Investigators plan to pour over maintenance records, pilot records and the pilot's flight physiology. "What his medical certification was and what his physical condition was at the time of the accident," Gunther said. Investigators are removing the avionics systems from the wreckage for further study. They are also examining air traffic data. The craft's registration and airworthiness are on the list of items to be analyzed. "We're also looking at flight path reconstruction right now," Gunther said. Wolfelt had taken off from Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport before flying to Ashland County. "We're also making a determination as to what his final destination may have been," Gunther said. After investigators finalize their work at the scene, they will spend about 30 days writing a report about the entire incident. That report will be available online. Another 60-90 days later, the probable cause of the wreck will be determined. The airplane was an experimental, homebuilt Express 2000 FT. "The airplane is made out of composite material," Gunther said. "It's fiberglass. It's built from a kit." The 4-seat aircraft was powered by a 6-cylinder engine that produced about 300 horsepower. First responders discovered an emergency locator transmitter on the airplane after the wreck, but investigators have since learned that no ground stations or satellites received a transmission from the craft before the crash. Investigators believe the plane was flying in a "nose-low attitude" when it struck ground. "It appears that at the time it impacted, the aircraft might have been spinning to the right," Gunther said. The plane hit one tree before coming to rest in the wooded area. The tips of both wings as well as each of the horizontal stabilizers were in place when the wreckage was discovered. The airplane's ailerons, elevator and rudder all seem to have been in place at the time of the wreck. "There's no sign of any type of in-flight structural failure, fire or explosion," Gunther said. "We do not have any evidence of a post-impact fire on scene, and we do know that the aircraft did have fuel on it." ztuggle@ 419-564-3508 This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Airplane wreckage will help determine cause that led to pilot's death
