Nathan's funeral will be held at:

He will be missed by everyone here at ASC, as well as by many others across the country. We will be posting details of the funeral in Michigan and the memorial dive here, as they become available.

Charity Raffle

Nate Gilbert's "Have a Good Jump" charity raffle. Proceeds to go to his family. Tickets $20.00 each at manifest.

- One hour wind tunnel time at Skyventure Orlando, FL
- Free coach jumps with TJ, Tyler, Mike G, Kenny
- Free tandem with Stuart, video and DVD by Jim
- Free vids by Jim Vance on 5 coach jumps
- Free pack jobs by Bythe and Jessica
- Free reserve pack jobs by Chuting Star Rigging Loft
- Discount certificates from several of Nate's sponsors
- 30 minute ride on John Gunn's Pit Special
- Free coach's course from Mark Kalupa
- 1/2 off Digitude

Remembrance

"Thank you. Everybody. His service will be in Michigan at Fred Wood Funeral Home in Lavonia, on 5mile road. He will be cremated. The showing will be on Weds. and the funeral Thurs.. He will be brought back here as soon as possible. We will be having a skydiver memorial in a couple of weeks. He wanted a theme when he died. I remember this talk and laughed. So the theme he wanted is,"REMEMBER WHEN"! I remember when he and I used to eat dessert for breakfast. Last breakfast was strawberries and cold hot fudge out of the jar. Only Nate and I. PM me for more info if you need."

Katie

I regret that I didn't get to know Nate as well as many of you did, although he did influence my life, vibes to you.

Anonymous

Hi, my name is Julie, I would like to say a few words about Nate.... Aarron & Jan Mouton are my close friends up here in Michigan, Aarron and Nate are cousins.....My friend Lana and I came down to ASC April this year to jump particularly because Nate worked there. I might have had only one experience with Nate but he set such a great impression, he was full of life and energy....nothing but smiles the day I saw him, funny guy too! He is in my photos and on my video with me for my first skydive experience, and just for him I'll make sure it won't be my last! Next jump I make will be for Nate!

I have a photo of Nate and our group that I will send a copy of, it will be treasured.

My condolences to Nate's family, he will be remembered always.

Sincerely,
Julie Addis

Remember When. . .
Nate, remember when I kept saying I was scared shitless then I could no longer comment so you said it for me! From what I hear you told Aarron I'm known down there as the girl who cussed a lot! Thanks for the comfort and support Nate!

Julie Addis

Anonymous

The first time I met Nate, I was trying to complete my level 6 AFF with Hans. Nate jumped with us and filmed the jump just for practice and to help. I didn't pass that level on that jump and was pretty angry with the world for a while. In the midst of that anger, Nate and Hans showed me the video then asked me if I wanted to buy it. I remember thinking that he and Hans were setting me up just to get a few bucks. The video showed me what I needed to work on and it helped me get better. I did my first two-way with Nate a couple of months later and my first three way with Nate and Katie. The three way was pretty exciting as I tubed the exit and Nate docked on me anyway and then Katie tubed the dock and flew right threw the circle of Nate and my arms. I wish I had that video!! He helped coach me to improve as I eventually completed my A-license requirements and beyond. Over the last 11 months, he became one of the friends I would look for and greet when I came to ASC. I'll miss his presence and advice. Thanks for caring and keep flying in Blue Skies Nate.

Thomas Lekas

Most of us can only dream to achieve expertise in a sport or venture such as that realized by Nate. I mean "TRUE TALENT"! Having enjoyed the sport for 3 years and benefited from his coaching on numerous occasions, of the things I will best remember was Nate's sheer professionalism and total lack of arrogance. Never too busy to say hello and chat, and never too important to explain the weird shapes in the sky after one of my attempts at free flying!

Skydiving carries some truly amazing characters along with many completely genuine people - Nate was no exception. The sport has lost one of the greatest assets it will ever have. No-one achieves what he achieved without complete dedication, hard work, passion and creativity. On hearing the news, words could not describe what I felt.

My deepest sympathies to Nate's girlfriend and family. I am so very sorry for your loss. He will be truly missed.

Dan

As with all of us, it came as a shock when I heard of Nate's accident and still cannot quite fathom that he is no longer with us. Being one of the new guys to ASC and to the sport, I could always count on getting an encouraging word from Nate. I also had the pleasure of having him as my freefly instructor. Nate was an ambassador to the sport and he will be truly missed. I am not a big fan of poetry but will sign off with "High Flight" by John Gillespie McGee. Nate; this is for you:

"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God".

Geir

Nate was the most outstanding person I have every had the pleasure to meet. I feel it a honor to have known him for the past year. There are many things he said and did that will always stay with me. One thing I will remember the most is my first skydive how scared I was, he was on the plane and he turn around told me not to worry just live life to the fullest and have a good time. Then he told me that I will be fine that I was jumping with the best and you know he was right. The last few night I have been thinking twice about jumping again but I have decided that is not what he would want from anyone. Nate was a very important person to all of us in skyride. I remember when he would come and knock on the door asking for candy. Nate had such a sweet tooth! It is a great loss for everyone. But he will always be with us in everything we do.

My condolences go out to the family and to Katie. The thought and prayers are with you guys.

Callie,
Skyride Crew

katie i am so sorry about his death.

i Remember him and Tj always swooping over the pond and i have been wanting to skydive for a long time and he was the one i wanted to film my video. but i done it one day when he wasn't up there. i didn't even know until cheryl and kevin told me and my mom.

I will always remember him for his smile. he was always so nice to everyone when my dad past away he said that if there was any thing he could do let him know.

and if there is anything i can do for you please let me know. i worte a poem about Nate. kevin told me not to let you read it right now.

my thought's and prayers are with you and your family
Frances Hawley

could you email me back at shyangel1234@yahoo.com if you would like to read that poem. i can bring it up saturday if you want

A story about Nate,.

Hey Nate,

Remember when, I had just started skydiving and we sat on the floor one evening talking about careers? I told you about the things I do for a living and you told me why you do what you do. I thought you were crazy, but now almost two years later I completely understand what you meant.

You have now moved on to the eternal blue skies and I envy you. The skies above the DZ will never be the same without your canopy flying overhead.

I miss you already and I hope to see you sitting on the next cloud I fall through, telling me to relax and use more legs.

Thanks for help, the love, the rubber band fights, thanks for shooting me in the face, packing my rig, thanks for sharing your diet Dr. Pepper.

Thanks for everything.

"We will see each other again, but not yet... not yet"

BLUE SKIES BROTHER.
RIP.

Bruno

I remember when Nate introduced Katie to me for the first time. It was several years ago at Skydive America. Nate brought Katie down for our Holiday Boogie and also so she could finish her AFF. Nate was sporting his usual big bright smile but was also glowing with love in his eyes! Of course he was busy organizing and jumping with friends. He came to me in the office and said.."Tami.please take care of Katie while I am jumping she's the ONE"!

"Nate's love and beutiful smile will live deep inside our hearts forever"

Tami Carbone

I was lucky enough to spend an entire Summer with Nathan at Skydive America.I remember when I let Nathan and TJ color my hair.They were pulling it through a cap to give my blond hair fire engine red highlights. I remember Nathan saying "I know it's taking a long time but you want it to look good right?" Anyway after it was finished I realized they pulled ALL of my hair through the cap. I didn't have highlights, I had a complete head of RED hair. Red like a clown! I remember Nathan smiling that smile of his.Of course I couldn't get mad. All I could do was smile back.It took me 3 months to get all of the red out. Nate Dawg will live on in my memories forever!

Megsterr from Texas

Hi Nate,

I remember the first time I met you, not all that long ago. A couple of the guys were razzing you about your Mickey D's, red and yellow, jumpsuit. I figured, what the heck, there couldn't be anything more ironic than a real clown like me teasing you about your clown colors, so I joined in. You just took it all with grace and smiled. I could tell you grok'd, man. The truth was I thought you were one of the sharpest kids I had ever met.

I think of you as a kid because of your heart. That's not bad. That makes you a great skydiver and great man. You are always there with a hand, advice, words of encouragement, and most important a smile. I guess that is what this is really all about, having the times of our lives and sharing them with the other kids.

Thanks for sharing with this kid. I will miss you. See you later in the playground.

Bob

Hey Nate,

I'm going to miss you very much. They way you would always eat all of my candy, how you would pop your head into manifest with a big smile and tell me not to sound like such a bitch on the speaker. I think that there is a small part of you in all of us, especially the guys you took some lazy boys and turned them into great skydivers. Your skills that you taught them will continue to live through them. I think you are one of the most sweetest guys Ive ever known and my dear condolences go out to Katie I could literally see the love you guys have.I say have cause that is something that will never go away.

Love Always,
Amanda

Nate and Katie,

I remember when I came back to ASC after spending most weekends working at Pell City for an extended period of time. I came back to see these guys at ASC who I could have sworn just got off AFF and are now freeflying and swooping like pros - I couldn't believe it. Kenny, Tyler, Chuck, V and many others are so talented because of Nate and that is one of the many ways he will carry on at ASC and the fact his picture is plastered everywhere there. I only hope to be loved as Katie is by Nate.

I remember when Nate told me he could teach me how to fly head down easier than to teach me how to shoot a rubberband.

I will always remember his laugh.

We will always take care of Katie, you know you don't have to worry about that.

Love Always,
Anne

Nathan,

It's weird to say it, but you and I have been friends for half our lives. You have been so much more than a friend though, you have been my brother, the brother I never had. You dated almost all of my friends - at times I felt like I was your personal dating service. I never thought any of them were right for you though, no one ever really fit you. That's why I'm so grateful you and Katie found each other. You finally found someone you could give your whole heart to, and I know she gave you hers in return. I've only just met her, but from what it sounds like, you and Connor are her whole world. I'm so glad you know what it feels like to be the center of someone's universe. And for that Katie I can't thank you enough.

The last 7 or 8 yrs we weren't as close as we used to be. You really got into skydiving, and I was a chicken. Our lives just took different paths. You were on such an adventure, moving from here to there, traveling everywhere, seeing so many cool things. I was always excited to hear where you were going and what you were jumping off of next. But I always hoped your adventure would bring you back home - so one day we could have BBQ's and birthday parties with our kids. You would be the cool uncle my kids could brag to their friends about.

You have made such an impression on my life with your modesty. You are so incredibly talented. I thought you were just messing around out there and found a way to make a job out of your hobby. You never said how good you were. You were actually making your dreams come true. I wish I would have known before. I would have told you how really, really proud of you I am.

Now its time for my remember when's. I have so many its hard to write just one.

I remember when we first met, in middle school. You asked me for a piece of gum. So I gave it to you, and you chewed it for about 10 minutes, then swallowed it. Then you asked for another piece - swallowed that one - and you continued until you ate my whole pack of gum in one hour. I don't think you ever learned to chew a piece for more then a few minutes, as soon as the sugar was gone, you swallowed it! I wonder.if it takes 7 yrs for one piece to pass through your system - How many pieces do you have in your belly?

I also remember in 9th grade we went to see one of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, the 3D one. I was so freaked out, and you wouldn't stop scaring me. You kept doing things to make me scream - then you'd laugh your ass off.

And I remember in 11th grade, you would sneak out of shop and come to my 5th hour, and make up some excuse to get me out of class - just so I could go to the car wash with you.

And I remember Strawberry Hill Boones Farm.
And I remember walking down the isle with you at commencements.
And going to empty parking lots and doing doughnuts in the snow.
And your love for raw cookie dough.

I have 14 yrs of great memories with you that I will never ever forget.

I will miss you with my whole heart and soul, and you will forever be my brother, my Nathan.

Love And Blue Skies Forever,

Carla

IVE PARTYED WITH NATE AND ALSO GOT A PRETTY BIT OF COACHING FROM HIM .IVE KNOWN HIM FOR 2 YEARS 3 MONTHS BEFOR HIS ACCIDENT I WOULD SAY THAT I MADE HIM LAUGH AT SOME OF THE STUPID STUFF IVE DONE ONE COMES TO MIND AND IT WAS RECIENT. IT WAS MARCH 27TH THE DAY AFTER MY 30TH BIRTHDAY AND IT WAS ABOUT 1:35 in the morning EVERYBODY WANTED ME TO TELL 1 OF MY CRAZY STORIES BUT I HAD NOTHING AT THE TIME BUT ALL THE SUDDEN I STARTED STRETCHING TELLING
THE STORY OF HOW I WAS SO LIMBER I WENT THROUGH THE LEGS ARMS AND BACK WHEN I GOT TO MY FEET I DONT KNOW IF I WAS JUST STRONG AND FELT SO GOOD IF U KNOW WHAT I MEAN OR IF MY BONES JUST BECAME BRITTLE BUT ALL THE SUDDEN I SNAPED MY TOE AT A 90 DEGEE ANGLE THE FIRST PERSON I LOOKED AT WAS NATE BUT EVERY BODY HEARD THE BRAKE WHITCH SOUNDED LIKE A BROOMHANDLE EVERYBODY WAS LAUGHING AND THAT WAS THE HIGH LIGHT OF THE NIGHT. 3 WEEKS LATTER NATE CAME UP TO ME AND SAID HE WOULD NEVER FOGET THAT NIGHT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE CRAZIEST THING HE HAD EVER INCOUNTERD IN HIS LIFE AND I AGREE BECAUSE IVE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY DO THAT EITHER. THERE WAS SOME FALLING OUT WHITH SOME
OF US AT ASC THAT NIGHT BUT HOW IT ALL COMES OUT IN THE YEARS TO COME WE ALL LOVED NATE VERY MUCH AND HE WILL NEVER BE FOGOTTEN BY ANYONE WHO MET HIM.

LOVE AND PEICE OUT FOR NOW

SUNMAN D-26579