Captain Dennis Ray Trone

RE: TRAGIC LOSS OF DENNIS TRONE:
Dear Bob and steamboating colleagues:
Just in from late meeting in Cincinnati. So very sorry to learn of the loss of Capt. Dennis Trone. Information will be forthcoming via the media and other links. Makes us all think that we live but from breath to breath. We all come together as friends and colleagues--forget the trivial.

"There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the most high." No. 46 Deus noster refugium.

R. Dale Flick - Coal Haven Landing, Cincinnati.

I heard about this on local radio's 8pm news as I was driving home from work...they never mentioned his name...just that it was a homemade plane. I'm not all that far away from Brodhead...

I never knew the man nor even heard of him until I joined Midwest Riverboat Buffs.

Condolences to his family...

It was a picture perfect day here in the heart of Wisconsin...although it was a typical windy day...

http://www.gazettextra.com/weblogs/latest-news/2008/may/05/pilot-killed-brodhead-crash/

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WI_AMATEUR_PLANE_CRASH_WIOL-?SITE=WIMAD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

I will pray for Libby and the Kids. I am so sad to hear of the loss of this nice man who gave me some of the most memorable times on the Illinois River.

Dear friends of Capt. Trone,

Just received this e-mail from the editor of the Brodhead (WI) Independent-Register.

"The crash of a single engine aircraft near the Brodhead Airport claimed the life of a Petersburg, Illinois man about 5 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Dennis Trone, 77, was the lone occupant of the aircraft and pronounced dead at the scene. The Green County Sheriff's Department received a 911 call from a passing motorist describing the crash in a field 400 yards south of the airport. The pilot was flying a local pattern, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Green County deputies, the Brodhead Fire Department, Brodhead EMS and Brodhead police responded to the scene. Trone, retired from the Navy, leaves a wife and four children. He was a regular flier at the airport, logging many hours per week. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, the Green County Sheriff's Department and the Green County Coroner's office."

As additional information becomes available, I will keep you posted. What a tremendous loss the river community has suffered with the passing of this multi-talented individual. Jonathan and I were scheduled to interview Capt. Trone this coming June as part of his research paper on steam calliopes on the inland rivers. The TWILIGHT is enroute this morning from LeClaire to Newt's drydock in Dubuque, and it will be a very sad, somber trip for all of them, I'm sure.

Here is the online link from the Monroe Times, including comments from the eyewitness to the crash:

http://www.themonroetimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=3080

Sad irony . . .

So sorry to hear about Capt. Trone. Our hearts go out to Libby and family.

It's so ironic. MOR rode the TWILIGHT in July 1999. Just before boarding, John Kennedy Jr. was lost in his plane near Martha's Vineyard. Dennis stopped by my table sometime during the cruise and he started talking about flying. Told him I used to fly all the time (and never thought anything about it), but over the years had decided that would never be my chosen mode of travel ever again. With a grin and a wink, Dennis replied that he would never quit flying . . .

David Tschiggfrie;10681 wrote: Dear friends of Capt. Trone,

Just received this e-mail from the editor of the Brodhead (WI) Independent-Register.

"The crash of a single engine aircraft near the Brodhead Airport claimed the life of a Petersburg, Illinois man about 5 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Dennis Trone, 77, was the lone occupant of the aircraft and pronounced dead at the scene. The Green County Sheriff's Department received a 911 call from a passing motorist describing the crash in a field 400 yards south of the airport. The pilot was flying a local pattern, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Green County deputies, the Brodhead Fire Department, Brodhead EMS and Brodhead police responded to the scene. Trone, retired from the Navy, leaves a wife and four children. He was a regular flier at the airport, logging many hours per week. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, the Green County Sheriff's Department and the Green County Coroner's office."

As additional information becomes available, I will keep you posted. What a tremendous loss the river community has suffered with the passing of this multi-talented individual. Jonathan and I were scheduled to interview Capt. Trone this coming June as part of his research paper on steam calliopes on the inland rivers. The TWILIGHT is enroute this morning from LeClaire to Newt's drydock in Dubuque, and it will be a very sad, somber trip for all of them, I'm sure.

Here is the link to that: http://www.indreg.com/Default.cfm?PageID=3668

I have a dear friend, Dwayne Estes that resides in St. Louis, Mo. He would like to be notified either by phone or email as to when and where the funeral will be held for Dennis trone. Here is his info..
Dwayne Estes
4225 S.Grand
St. Louis, MO. 63111
ph.314-771-2020
email:Dwayne@somefunproductions
Dwayne played the calliope on the JBS from 1975-1977 when she sailed cruises from Evansvile, IN.

Captain Dennis R. Trone
July 18, 1930
May 5, 2008

Captain Dennis Trone was killed Monday in a single engine airplane accident near the Brodhead WI airport.

For his friends in the close knit communities of riverboats and airplanes, the death of Denny means the loss of a great deal of knowledge and experience that can never be replaced.

To me, it means the loss of a dear friend, mentor and hero. Denny was a man of greatness but also of the utmost simplicity and genuineness. His heart always belonged to the underdog and he was generous to a fault, be it with money, his talents or simply his presence. He could be a bit cantankerous, and had no trouble expressing himself especially when championing his business or family, and we loved him for it. I can never repay the debt I owe to him for the kindness and loving support he has shown to Kevin and I over the past 23 years.

There was, no doubt, an unexplained sensation that struck us all last night, before we even heard the news. That is the kind of connection he had with all who’s life’s he touched. Many blogs have already posted the news of his passing and many people have generously shared their memories.

Steamboats.org mudcat.org

Denny died, as he would have wanted, in the air, enjoying life with reckless abandon as he always did.

Denny flies on ahead of his loving, faithful and ever supportive wife of many years, Elizabeth (Libby) of Petersburg IL. Four daughters—Janet Trone, Lisa (Dennis) McLaughlin and Sophia Trone of California and Amanda (Paul) Serra of Pennsylvania. One son, Robert (Nancy) of Minnesota. His grandchildren, Elizabeth and Victoria Serra and Robert and Katie Trone.

Services have not yet been scheduled, but will most likely be held in Rushville IL, the town where he was born and raised. Check back for updated information.

Carrie & Kevin Stier
[email protected]

Now take back the soul of Dennis R Trone, whom You have shared with us. He brought us joy...we loved him well.
Borrowed from Karen Blixen….Out of Africa

Services for Dennis Trone

A short funeral service will be held Saturday May 10th, at 10:00am at the Worthington Funeral Home, 331 W. Washington St., Rushville IL 62681. Internment will be at the Rushville City Cemetery where Denny will be laid to rest next to his father and mother.

A memorial service will follow at the First Christian Church, 210 S. 8th St., Petersburg IL 62675 beginning at 1:30pm.

The family has requested no flowers be sent and memorials be of the donors choice.

Carrie,

Thanks for posting the obituary and the information about the funeral service.

Franz and I had the great pleasure to meet Dennis back in 1998. He gave us a tour through the then Mississippi River Museum showing us his office desk. When we said goodbye he replied if we ever find a double decker plane in a barn over here in Germany he wants to know about it.

Carmen

Dennis Trone was the finest sternwheel riverboat designer of our time. The Twilight and the Julia Belle Swain are his monuments, but he dersigned many other excursion boats.

Official family obit

Please note the change in time for the Memorial Service.

Captain Dennis (Denny) Ray Trone, born 07/18/1930, died 05/05/2008.

Denny was born to Doane and Mabel Trone and raised in Rushville, Illinis; he was the eldest of three sons. Upon graduation from the United States Navel Academy, he married Elizabeth Fiala in 1954. After completing Naval Postgraduate School and a nine-year career, he resigned from the Navy.

Denny and his younger brother and best friend, Robert (Moon), bought a half interest in the Dubuque Boat and Boiler company. Over a ten-year period, many boats were built including the riverboat Talisman and steamboat Julia Belle Swain. Denny and Moon ran the boat business out of Peoria, but would often lead the lives of gypsies, tramping up and down the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Illinois rivers. There were countless adventures, events, and people only the mind could imagine. After the excursion boat Twilight was built, the business was moved to Galena, Illinois. In 2006, Denny finally sold the boat business to long time employees Kevin and Carrie Stier.

Denny finally had the time to devote his full attention to what he loved to do, restore and fly the airplanes he had seen and read about as a child. This joy was tragically cut short when he was suddenly killed in an aircraft accident near Brodhead, Wisconsin.

Denny was a maverick, leader, mentor, and devoted friend to those in the close knit communities of riverboats and airplanes, and with his death there has been a great loss of experience and knowledge that can never be replaced.

Denny was preceded in death by his parents Doane and Mabel (Ray), and his brothers Robert (Moon) and Kent.

Denny has left a loving, faithful and ever supportive wife of 53 years, Elizabeth (Fiala) of Petersburg, Illinois; children Janet Trone of Mojave, California, Lisa (Dennis) Ideue of Fullerton, California, Amanda (Paul) Serra of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Robert (Nancy) Trone of Lakeville, Minnesota, and Sophia Trone of Los Angeles, California; and grandchildren Elizabeth and Victoria Serra, and Katharine and Robert Trone.

A short funeral service will be held Saturday May 10, at 10:00 am at the Worthington Funeral Home, 331 W. Washington St., Rushville, IL 62681. The internment will be at the Rushville City Cemetery where Denny will be laid to rest beside his father, mother and brother. Following the funeral, a memorial service will be held at the First Christian Church, 210 S. 8th St., Petersburg, IL 62675 beginning at 2:30 pm.

The family requests no flowers be sent, and memorials be of the donors choice.

Thank you all!

All of your kind words and thoughts are greatly appreciated by the family. Your kindness is greatly appreciated during this difficult time.

Again - Thank you all.

Sincerely,

Julia Trone

Capt. Trone can be seen here doing what he loved:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScwIbdM2H8A

I only met him once, last year. But being around him for little more than a minute, one could appreciate the true breadth of his geniality. Our community has truly lost a great man.

I am very shocked and saddend to hear of the untimely passing of Dennis Trone. My sincere condolences to his Wife Libby and the family. I will forever be in debt to Denny for including myself and my family on two of his week long trips on the Julia Belle in 1977 and for allowing me to "work" standing watches as a steersman - 6 on-6 off. It was an elightening experience to be a prt of life on a steamboat even for such a short preiod.

Captain Dennis Trone

I know Dennis is now in Steamboat heaven! He is designing a bunch of new boats to come from the throne of Christ. He and Betty Blake and Capt. Ernest Wagoner are probably having a bal!! I love him and Libby very much! Thanks for helping me in my career in steamboating. I am happy for Libby's patience for the 1000 times I played my trademark song "Down Yonder" on the calliope! God rest you Denny and love to the family that probably does not remember me from 1981 and 1982 season. Sincerely, Allen Dale Strange

Julia, love to you and family! long live the JBS!!!

Here´s a nice article in the LaCrosse Tribune

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/05/07/news/z14pilot0507.txt

Carmen

Dennis Trone; View off the stern...

I got the word yesterday about the passing of Denny Trone, captain and builder of the Julia Belle Swain and the Twilight Riverboats. I’ve been out on the road ever since I heard, but want to add my memories of Denny Trone to the pot.

I was fortunate enough to be recommended by Art Theime (thanks again Art!) to take over as one of the boat performers on the Riverboat Twilight after he retired. Much as Art has already stated, it was a rare and precious treat to have steady work as a folk singer.

I did my first show for Denny in 1997 and continue to perform on the Twilight to this day. John Hartford, one of my musical heroes, was co-piloting that day and the boat was full. After I finished my set (which I shared with Hartford) I went down to the front of the boat to check with Denny to see what he thought of the music. As we talked, I noticed that the boat was heading straight for one of the red river marker buoys. Being a greenhorn to the river and not wanting to look stupid, I kept talking until finally I couldn't stand it any longer and said to Denny "are we supposed to be so close to that"? Denny turned around and saw we were about to hit the marker and took off like a shot for the pilot house. The boat ran over the marker with a tremendous noise bringing the kitchen crew running up from below the deck. I was amazed that after he got things under control, Denny didn't yell at the pilot up top (not Hartford) but helped him work out what had happened (he'd hit a mud bank and the rudder wouldn't respond).

Over the next 10 years, I saw Denny do countless other acts of teaching and sharing. He was tough and firm, but always stood by his people. I've seen him put up bail money for past employees that hadn't worked for him for years. He was also the consummate river pilot, once aggressively saving the Twilight from being crushed between two barges after John Hartford made a bad choice while docking in Le Claire. He was also a world class raconteur full of stories of the river and of Scab Holler; the extremely rural section of Schuyler County, IL where many of his people were from. I had the opportunity early in the folklore part of my career to have collected music in that area, interviewing some of his relatives and I can tell you first hand, he came from sturdy stock. The word hardscrabble comes to mind, but it was that very nature that made him such an excellent riverman. Very few of the lock and dam folks ever argued with him when we came to lock through!

I spent my entire first year’s wages from the Twilight on a ring for my wife and “officially” proposed to her in Lanark, IL before taking her and my soon to be adopted daughter Emily on the boat with me for the first time. In 2000, my wife and I lost our daughter in bike accident. Large parts of that time remain a fog for me but I clearly remember Denny sending word to take as much time as I needed… my job would be waiting when I felt ready to return. It was; and I never forgot that act of kindness.

I know Denny will be long remembered and deeply missed on the River and those of us that worked with him will always be in his debt. For my part, I'll always think of Denny any time I play on the Twilight, especially when I perform 2 songs he convinced me to learn: Stephan Foster's "Glendy Burke" (the melody and song form Hartford used for "The Julia Belle Swain") and "Monongahela Sal" a wonderful old song about a rowdy old river pilot that personified Denny perfectly!

See you downstream old friend!

Chris Vallillo

With great sadness, due to a daytime commitment, Annie and I could not attend the services today to bid our farewell to Denny. Only in early March 2008 did I learn of his passion for antique airplanes. Add one more "gotta see/do" to a list of things to see and places to go before making that final crossing. Sadly not to be.

Tonight on NPR's 'American Roots' [a program I do not usually listen to] was music of the Mississippi River. Early in the program was the late John Hartford recording of 'The Julia Belle Swain'.

Thanks NPR and local affiliate KWMU for, in our minds, an unknowingly timely and appropriate farewell to a fine Steamboatman.

Saturday morning's service at the Worthington Funeral Home was a joyous celebration of the life of Capt. Dennis Trone. The room was packed with scores of family, friends, and acquaintances, all united in their profound appreciation and respect for having been given the blessing of knowing Denny in their lifetime. There was also an unmistakable and palpable presence among us of the heart and spirit of so many of you who post on this message board and others whose lives have been touched by this great man and his family, whether you could be present or not. We know that you were there with us, and I believe Denny did too. The real celebration of the day and of the man was that he lived a life in which there were no real regrets. Denny was a man who enjoyed and lived life to the full, and who welcomed and invited all his friends to join in the celebration of life's wonder along with him. And that is truly a tremendous gift and blessing to be honored and celebrated. Capt. Trone's spirit lives on in an even bigger way now through all of us who remember and honor him in living our lives with passion and kindness and generosity.

Thanks and a link..

Thanks Chris for your stories. I knew nothing about Captain Trone except through the words of a couple of other former employees and admirers. Your stories help fill in the story for me. The community has certainly lost a pillar.

As another pilot, I am so very sad now that I never took the time to search him out on a visit.

You might find this article and the links to youtube intersting.

http://sj-r.com/news/stories/29900.asp

My condolences to all his many friends and family.

bob

On My Mind

Just the other day as I was sweeping down the pilothouse stairs on the SUN*FISH, I suddenly thought of Captain Dennis Trone, and it had been a while since Capt'n Trone was on my mind, but there he was, foremost in my thoughts as the dust flew.

Only a few hours later while checking the internet at the Decatur Public Library, I opened the Dot/Org message board to find that this most gifted and versatile steamboatman and aviator had been killed in a flying accident. Needless to say, I was shocked and saddened at the news.

I can’t recall when I first met Captain Trone, but it may have been in Dubuque during the AVALON days when he probably came down to visit Captains Wagner, Hawley, and a number of well-known Upper Mississippi River Pilots who were usually aboard the steamboat. We must have continued our acquaintance during the mid-sixties whenever the DELTA QUEEN was on the upper river, but whatever the case, I was fortunate-enough the get to know him on a first name exchange, though I would never have called him by his given name.

Several years later in Peoria on the Illinois River, when I was Cap’n Wagner’s Mate on the DELTA QUEEN, the JULIA BELLE SWAIN was a new boat and a big to-do was made ballyhooing a race between the two steamboats. Much to everyone’s disappointment, the JULIE BELLE had mechanical problems and could not compete in the race, so the DELTA QUEEN “raced” by herself. Captain Trone, in the meantime, continued trying to find the cause of his trouble while the QUEEN ran alone on Lake Peoria.

When we returned to the landing and tied off below the JULIA BELLE SWAIN, I turned to a friend standing next to me on the bow of the DELTA QUEEN and asked if he would like to meet Captain Dennis Trone. He was delighted at the prospect, so we ventured over to the smaller steamboat and went aboard.

There were several disillusioned crewmembers standing around the Main deck of the boat, and when I asked for Captain Trone someone replied that he was exhausted and taking a nap after working all night trying to get the boat ready for the steamboat race. After introducing myself to one of the ladies present, I told her that the man with me dearly wanted to meet Captain Trone, so we were led into the cabin where the Captain was asleep on the rug, but as we approached Captain Trone awoke, rubbed his eyes, smiled, stood up and stuck out his hand in a warm and welcome greeting.

“Captain Trone," I said, "may I introduce John Hatford!”

That, of course, was the beginning of a legendary friendship. The last time I saw Cap’n Trone was at John’s funeral at Hartford Place on the bluff high above the Cumberland River.

My deepest sympathy is extended to Captain Dennis Trone’s wife and family, his many friends, and all those who can proudly claim that they were, at sometime or another, a member of his illustrious crew.