When a friend of mine passed away a few years ago we were members of a gaming forum. At his passing we posted a message much as RJ has done here. In this post came back stories of how he had touched the lives of so many. We passed these posts on to his family so that they could see that they were not alone in their loss.
I would like to do that here. So if you have a story of how Red Label has affected your life in a positive way, things he has taught you, a hunting story, something that made you laugh, etc.
Please post it here in his honour.
A Tribute to Red Label
Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude
A Tribute to Red Label
Last edited by Don on Sat Mar 19, 2005 1:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
To get things started here is my story.
I met Mike at the Excalibur Open House a few years back.
We had been invited back to RJ's house after the tour. A few minutes after I arrived Mike came in and we were introduced. Right away we began to talk like we had been friends for years. I met Mike a few more times over the last couple of years at a few 3D shoots. And again he broke out in conversation as if we were great friends and saw each other all the time.
I have never forgotten how comfortable Mike made you feel when he was around he joked he laughed. Not at all like someone you had only met a few times.
I consider Red Label a good friend even though we only met a few times and will miss posting with him.
This may not seem like a lot to some of you but I am not a very conversation oriented person so to be able to have an in depth conversation with someone who I did not know well was a great experience.
To Mike, thanks for being a friend, you will be missed.
Don
I met Mike at the Excalibur Open House a few years back.
We had been invited back to RJ's house after the tour. A few minutes after I arrived Mike came in and we were introduced. Right away we began to talk like we had been friends for years. I met Mike a few more times over the last couple of years at a few 3D shoots. And again he broke out in conversation as if we were great friends and saw each other all the time.
I have never forgotten how comfortable Mike made you feel when he was around he joked he laughed. Not at all like someone you had only met a few times.
I consider Red Label a good friend even though we only met a few times and will miss posting with him.
This may not seem like a lot to some of you but I am not a very conversation oriented person so to be able to have an in depth conversation with someone who I did not know well was a great experience.
To Mike, thanks for being a friend, you will be missed.
Don
mike posted my first deer pictures a couple of years ago when i did not know how. i asked if anybody would post the pics for me and he responded right away via pm and had my pics up in no time. thanks mike even though i did not know you personally i still considered you a friend.
dave wasserman
dave wasserman
"you gotta love it"
Too many for me to just pick one time. I only wish I could have meet him face too face. Mike always told it as it was, and helped me in many, many ways. His pictures was nothing short of being the best of wildlife.
I feel as I have lost a family member and am going to miss his post very, very much. God Bless
Gary L. Windom
I feel as I have lost a family member and am going to miss his post very, very much. God Bless
Gary L. Windom
Always learning!!
Home fer now!
Home fer now!
My story:
When I first joined the forum, I was planning on getting a Buffalo/deer hunt on my place. Mike was one of the first ones interested along with 3 other fellows on the forum. The farmer that was to help me get this going, suddenly decided to sell his farm. (Although he still has some buffalo which may still be going on our land, for lease). This raised a few eyebrows, and I actually got some negative feed back. Some called me a P.E.T.A., some called it a canned hunt, "whatever". One of the few guys that came to my rescue and backed me was..... Red Label. Mike also came to my rescue on a few other issues, to me that's a true friend. I'm so sorry that things didn't work out more quickly, so I could have met Mike in person. Those of you that personally met Mike, shot with Mike and generally had a good time with Mike, are VERY LUCKY.
I'm truly saddened by this turn of events, and will be meloncholy every time I log on, and not see Mike's forum name.
Before I log off, I just want to say, that this is a HUGE, BIG, reason that this forum should have a meet and greet rendevous, later on this year. I hope Beaver that this event is pulled off, because you never know when our time is up. I hope this get together happens, and Mike is remembered at it.
And to Mike, I'll pray for you at church next time. Take care, to a guy I called my distant BUDDY.
Take care everyone, and God Bless.
Grey Owl
Neil
When I first joined the forum, I was planning on getting a Buffalo/deer hunt on my place. Mike was one of the first ones interested along with 3 other fellows on the forum. The farmer that was to help me get this going, suddenly decided to sell his farm. (Although he still has some buffalo which may still be going on our land, for lease). This raised a few eyebrows, and I actually got some negative feed back. Some called me a P.E.T.A., some called it a canned hunt, "whatever". One of the few guys that came to my rescue and backed me was..... Red Label. Mike also came to my rescue on a few other issues, to me that's a true friend. I'm so sorry that things didn't work out more quickly, so I could have met Mike in person. Those of you that personally met Mike, shot with Mike and generally had a good time with Mike, are VERY LUCKY.
I'm truly saddened by this turn of events, and will be meloncholy every time I log on, and not see Mike's forum name.
Before I log off, I just want to say, that this is a HUGE, BIG, reason that this forum should have a meet and greet rendevous, later on this year. I hope Beaver that this event is pulled off, because you never know when our time is up. I hope this get together happens, and Mike is remembered at it.
And to Mike, I'll pray for you at church next time. Take care, to a guy I called my distant BUDDY.
Take care everyone, and God Bless.
Grey Owl
Neil
I only met Mike once when I purchased a bow from him. The bow was everything he said it would be and he even contacted me the next day to make sure I was still happy with it. But that's not what I liked most about Mike. After we had finished with business Mike and I talked for awhile about hunting and things and he was the kind of guy that you felt you had known for years although you may have just met him. A good, honest person.
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REDSTAR
A Tribute To My Father MIKE VANB BOMMEL (RED LABEL)
I as well as most of my family are still in great shock of this bad incodent of which happend on friday night. As many of you other great gentlemen who knew my father I will miss him Greatly.
Yes He was a great man at heart and this unexpected turn of events has changed my perspective on alot of things. I myself as much as the rest of my family appreciate your concerns as well as compliments to being in contact with this fine person.
Sorry guy's i don't know what to say.............
i again thank you all for your upport and MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!
Sincerely Chris Van Bommel
Yes He was a great man at heart and this unexpected turn of events has changed my perspective on alot of things. I myself as much as the rest of my family appreciate your concerns as well as compliments to being in contact with this fine person.
Sorry guy's i don't know what to say.............
i again thank you all for your upport and MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!
Sincerely Chris Van Bommel
I first met Mike at the CSC 3D Shoot, hosted by 10Ring's club. Like Don, I too noticed Mike's friendly disposition. At the end of the Shoot we took a group picture of the Forum members who attended, which I have and which I view from time to time to bring back fond memories.
I've met Mike at a few other Shoots, as well as at the Excalibur Open House. I even made a few trades with him. The last time I met Mike, was at BigBear's 3D Crossbow Birthday Shoot, after which we went back to BigBear's. I have nothing but good memories of Mike, and was hoping to have gotten to know him even better in the future. to add to those memories, by perhaps sharing a hunt. Alas, now that's not to be.
Mike you might be gone, but you will live in my memory.
For those of you who have never met Mike, below are a couple of links to pics of Mike in happier times.
Mike kneeling at CSC 3D Shoot
Mike accepting his Trophy from BigBear at Wolf's Den
I've met Mike at a few other Shoots, as well as at the Excalibur Open House. I even made a few trades with him. The last time I met Mike, was at BigBear's 3D Crossbow Birthday Shoot, after which we went back to BigBear's. I have nothing but good memories of Mike, and was hoping to have gotten to know him even better in the future. to add to those memories, by perhaps sharing a hunt. Alas, now that's not to be.
Mike you might be gone, but you will live in my memory.
For those of you who have never met Mike, below are a couple of links to pics of Mike in happier times.
Mike kneeling at CSC 3D Shoot
Mike accepting his Trophy from BigBear at Wolf's Den
Member Mike (Red Label) Whitetails from 2001 and 2003
these are from another forum
http://www.slickpages.com/crossbowhunter/
"dw"
"you gotta love it"
When I think of Mikey V. ... these things come to mind .
A dedicated husband , father , and friend to many ....
Always willing to help above and beyond .... he always pulled his weight !
A passion for out door adventures .... and we had many !
A dry sense of humor and we poked fun at each other many times , as is the way in our group !
Never sherked a task !!!
And I will remember him this way .... with an ear to ear grin when he took his 1st mature buck this season ! He put his time in ... and what an accompishment ! ( you can see the picture I mean in this post )
http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/phpBB2 ... miley+dude
I'm not a religious man .... I believe you live on in the memories of your friends and family .... so Mikey will be around for a long time !! I hope there is a God and a Heaven , because if there is Mikey will be there !
Good luck in your next adventure Mikey ! .....
I'm thankfull for all of you that do have faith and thank you all in advance for your prayers to Mike and his family !
A dedicated husband , father , and friend to many ....
Always willing to help above and beyond .... he always pulled his weight !
A passion for out door adventures .... and we had many !
A dry sense of humor and we poked fun at each other many times , as is the way in our group !
Never sherked a task !!!
And I will remember him this way .... with an ear to ear grin when he took his 1st mature buck this season ! He put his time in ... and what an accompishment ! ( you can see the picture I mean in this post )
http://www.excaliburcrossbow.com/phpBB2 ... miley+dude
I'm not a religious man .... I believe you live on in the memories of your friends and family .... so Mikey will be around for a long time !! I hope there is a God and a Heaven , because if there is Mikey will be there !
Good luck in your next adventure Mikey ! .....
I'm thankfull for all of you that do have faith and thank you all in advance for your prayers to Mike and his family !
See Ya. ... R.J. > " Remember , Trophies are measured by the time and energy expended to get them , not the size or quantity of the quarry "
Well $hit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When RJ called me this am and even after I got to RJ's rez I kept thinking "This cant be true!" But as life can be so cruel at times we have lost a GREAT man and a person I was and am proud to call my friend!!
I met Mikey a couple of years back through an introduction from RJ. Soon after we were swaping hunts, scouting, driving around from place to place to ask for permission to hunt, going to Tim's for coffee, e-mailing, and calling each other.
I have so many memories of Mikey over the past couple of years......
My memories are all great from the first time I met him. Mikey and RJ kinda took me under their wings and set out to teach me the finer points of crossbow hunting.
Mike was the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back if it looked like you needed it.
There are two times that really stand out in my mind about Mike;
In the later part of our 2004 season I was fortunate enough to be with him and RJ when he scored his big buck. When Mikey came in with the big fella in tow his first words out of his mouth were "Robin you can have this one for your freezer!" (I had not taken an animal yet and there was only a few days left in the season) In the time of his biggest harvest in his life he was still thinking of others and not himself.
With only 1 day left in the season Mike called me and said "Be at my house in the morning.......We are going to get you your first deer with the Excalibur!!". Well morning rolled around and it was cold windy and raining and miserable as all hell. I said to Mike that we should just forget about it! Mike would have nothing to do with it and once again told me that "Today is your day to bag a deer with your Excal!". We headed out in the rain and I must say that I have never been sooooo wet and cold in my life and all I could think of was what Mike was doing for a friend!!
This is a mere sample of the type of person he was and I could go on and on but my eyes are leaking just thinking about him and how much he will be missed!!!
All I can add is "Mike god's speed my friend and we will meet again......I like to think Mike is not gone he has just pushed on ahead a little early to scout out the best hunting spots for us!!!"
PS - If we do the Forum Shoot this year is there a possibility we could dedicate it to Mikey and his memory??!
With the most respect possible,
Robin-Lee Chester Irwin
When RJ called me this am and even after I got to RJ's rez I kept thinking "This cant be true!" But as life can be so cruel at times we have lost a GREAT man and a person I was and am proud to call my friend!!
I met Mikey a couple of years back through an introduction from RJ. Soon after we were swaping hunts, scouting, driving around from place to place to ask for permission to hunt, going to Tim's for coffee, e-mailing, and calling each other.
I have so many memories of Mikey over the past couple of years......
My memories are all great from the first time I met him. Mikey and RJ kinda took me under their wings and set out to teach me the finer points of crossbow hunting.
Mike was the kind of guy that would give you the shirt off his back if it looked like you needed it.
There are two times that really stand out in my mind about Mike;
In the later part of our 2004 season I was fortunate enough to be with him and RJ when he scored his big buck. When Mikey came in with the big fella in tow his first words out of his mouth were "Robin you can have this one for your freezer!" (I had not taken an animal yet and there was only a few days left in the season) In the time of his biggest harvest in his life he was still thinking of others and not himself.
With only 1 day left in the season Mike called me and said "Be at my house in the morning.......We are going to get you your first deer with the Excalibur!!". Well morning rolled around and it was cold windy and raining and miserable as all hell. I said to Mike that we should just forget about it! Mike would have nothing to do with it and once again told me that "Today is your day to bag a deer with your Excal!". We headed out in the rain and I must say that I have never been sooooo wet and cold in my life and all I could think of was what Mike was doing for a friend!!
This is a mere sample of the type of person he was and I could go on and on but my eyes are leaking just thinking about him and how much he will be missed!!!
All I can add is "Mike god's speed my friend and we will meet again......I like to think Mike is not gone he has just pushed on ahead a little early to scout out the best hunting spots for us!!!"
PS - If we do the Forum Shoot this year is there a possibility we could dedicate it to Mikey and his memory??!
With the most respect possible,
Robin-Lee Chester Irwin
Wildlife Management & Reduction Specialist
Mikey V
I don't know well enough about Mike to give a long testimonial, what I do know is that when I had dealings with Mike they were very straightforward, and honest!
When I was amongst a group of folks, whom I only knew from the forum, Mike made me feel comfortable and allowed me to enjoy the company of himself and his friend!
It was an awesome afternoon and I will always remember that the important thing was the comraderie, and the honest feeling I had about just being myself! Muchly appreciated Mike and R.J!
From then on I began to develop a lot of respect for the Ethics and Approach to Hunting these guys have displayed!
Thank-You
When I was amongst a group of folks, whom I only knew from the forum, Mike made me feel comfortable and allowed me to enjoy the company of himself and his friend!
It was an awesome afternoon and I will always remember that the important thing was the comraderie, and the honest feeling I had about just being myself! Muchly appreciated Mike and R.J!
From then on I began to develop a lot of respect for the Ethics and Approach to Hunting these guys have displayed!
Thank-You
Enjoy the Harvest!
I still can't believe i'm writing this and i'm having a difficult time with it.........
I've got to tell you this...i've known Mike for a few years and in the short time it has been, i considered him to be "my friend"...Mike was the kind of guy that was "always" there to help a friend in need...He was also one that "never" expected anything in return...i say that whole heartedly and in absolute appreciation for the man...Mike and i talked on average a couple of times a week, whether it was on the phone or through emails and such...the start of each conversation, was a genuine interest in "how I was doing"...not just the everyday token of speech but a sincere invitation to discuss how things were in my part of the world...Mike was a good listener as he was genuinely concerned in just how the world was treating you...When my mother passed away about 7 months ago, Mike was here to pay his respects...He jumped into his truck, drove for about 4 hours to get here, (and about 5 back), paid his respects and offered comfort for me at that sad moment in my life...he was here for me - he was indeed a friend - a true blue friend...
- Mikey, you leave for me an appreciation for friendship...all of us need to savor the friendships we have today!...Mike has left us with a multitude of good thoughts and experiences - please let's make sure we remember the happy times...
- I'm going to miss you Mike, as most here will
I've got to tell you this...i've known Mike for a few years and in the short time it has been, i considered him to be "my friend"...Mike was the kind of guy that was "always" there to help a friend in need...He was also one that "never" expected anything in return...i say that whole heartedly and in absolute appreciation for the man...Mike and i talked on average a couple of times a week, whether it was on the phone or through emails and such...the start of each conversation, was a genuine interest in "how I was doing"...not just the everyday token of speech but a sincere invitation to discuss how things were in my part of the world...Mike was a good listener as he was genuinely concerned in just how the world was treating you...When my mother passed away about 7 months ago, Mike was here to pay his respects...He jumped into his truck, drove for about 4 hours to get here, (and about 5 back), paid his respects and offered comfort for me at that sad moment in my life...he was here for me - he was indeed a friend - a true blue friend...
- Mikey, you leave for me an appreciation for friendship...all of us need to savor the friendships we have today!...Mike has left us with a multitude of good thoughts and experiences - please let's make sure we remember the happy times...
- I'm going to miss you Mike, as most here will
