Valentineís plane crash takes life of ë81 NB grad

Posted 2/22/01

Valentineís plane crash takes life of ë81 NB grad - Investigation will take months

By Cliff Buchan
News Editor, Forest Lake Times
Joseph Paar, a former resident of the North Branch area and 1981 graduate of North Branch High School, and his wife, Dr. Julie Paar Kummer, a pediatrician who practiced at Childrenís Hospital and Clinics in Minneapolis, were killed along with another couple in an airplane crash in Wisconsin last week.

Paar, 37, and his wife, Julie, 39, of Columbus Township and two passengers, Steve and Jayne Dumas, West Lakeland Township, died around
9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 14 as the plane Paar was flying crashed while taking off from an air strip at Voyager Village, a resort near Webb Lake, WI.

While the federal investigation into the cause of the crash will continue for months, the president of the flying club which owned the plane said this week the mechanical condition of the plane was found to be OK.

ìEverything was functioning right,î said Phil Mattison, Forest Lake, president of Club Cherokee. Paar and Dumas were members of the club which owns eight airplanes and has 80 members.

ìIt appears they are ruling out mechanical causes,î Mattison said of reports from the National Transportation Safety Board investigation that remains ongoing. ìPilot error will be a cause for speculation forever.î

Mattison said he has known Paar for a number of years and considered him an excellent pilot. He said he was baffled by the crash.

According to reports, the two couples and a third couple in a second plane flew to Voyager Village for a Valentineís Day Dinner. The second plane had left for the Twin Cities when Paar started his takeoff, Mattison said.

The plane went down only seconds after takeoff and crashed 2000 feet from the runway after veering 40 degrees to the right of the runway, he said.
ìWe donít know what could have caused that,î Mattison said. ìI just canít imagine what would have happened in the cockpit.î

Mattison said Dumas flew the plane to Wisconsin and Paar was to fly the plane back to Lake Elmo Airport where the West Lakeland Township couple left their car. The Paars were to return the plane to the Crystal Airport where the flying club has headquarters.

Changing careers
At just 37, Mattison said he was convinced Paar was well on his way to a career switch to become a flight instructor full-time. After many years of running a home remodeling business, Paar has been dedicating his time to flying and only recently received his instructorís rating, Mattison said.
But the dreams of a career in flying ended when the Piper Arrow 28-R crashed in Burnett County of Wisconsin.

ìJoe was well on his way to becoming proficient,î Mattison said. Mattison said he found Paar an ìenergetic and enthusiasticî guy who took flying seriously.

In his four years as a pilot, Mattison said Paar had received his private pilot, instrument, commercial, instructorís and multi-engine ratings. His goal was to become a flight instructor and Steve Dumas was a student, Mattison said.

ìThat was his big goal in joining the flying club,î Mattison said. ìHe was starting to train students.î
Mattison said Voyager Villager is one of the most popular destinations for Twin Cities pilots and is a scenic and easy 20-minute flight. ìHeís (Paar) been in and out of Voyager Village numerous times,î he said.

Funeral details
A funeral service for Joseph Christopher Paul and Dr. Julie Ann Kummer Paul took place Wednesday, Feb. 21 at St. Joseph Catholic Church of Lino Lakes. Interment was at St. Josephís Church Cemetery.

Joseph Paar is survived by a daughter, Meghan Colleen Karschina; a son, Sean Michael Paar; parents Joe and Joan Paar, Frederic, WI; brothers Jack (Nelly) Paar and James Paar; sister Julie (Frank) Ward; and other relatives.

Julie Kummer Paar is survived by son Sean and stepdaughter, Meghan; mother Sandra Kummer; father Lee Kummer; stepfather Jene Kummer; brothers Keith (Kathy) Kummer and Steven Kummer; sister Kelly (Craig) Moss; and other relatives.

Memorials are preferred to either the Joseph and Julie Paar Memorial Fund or the Paar Children Memorial Fund, care of Lino Lakes State Bank, 7449 Village Drive, Lino Lakes, MN 55014.