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Kobasic made impact on community

Tim Kobasic

ESCANABA — Outdoors enthusiast, radio host and columnist Tim Kobasic is being remembered by the many people whose lives he touched. Kobasic, of Escanaba, died Sunday of complications due to a massive stroke at the age of 65.

Kobasic was the “Trails and Tales Outdoor Radio” host and a Daily Press columnist for many years and had extensive involvement in outdoors groups and issues. He was a retired U.P. Health System Rampart EMS paramedic.

Kobasic, the son of Ivan and Mary Grace Kobasic, was born on Nov. 18, 1953 in Escanaba. On Sept. 28, 1974, he married Mary Kay (Dufour) Kobasic; the couple’s marriage lasted for 44 years.

“How do you sum up 44 years? He was my best friend,” Mary Kay Kobasic said.

Lisa Gramza, Kobasic’s daughter, said her father was a positive influence on her and many others.

“I find it so hard to put my feelings of my dad into just a few words. He was just so much to so many. I was told the other day that “a legacy is a lifelong goal of giving,” and this was my dad. A legend, my rock, my hero,” she said.

The Great Outdoors played a significant role in Kobasic’s life. According to U.P. Whitetails Treasurer Alan Ettenhofer, Kobasic was a part of U.P. Whitetails since its earliest days.

“Tim actually was U.P. Whitetails (Association’s) first secretary,” he said. Kobasic held this position for 10 years.

Other outdoors-related organizations and programs Kobasic was involved with included Wheelin’ Sportsmen, SORVA, Wildlife Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Bay de Noc Gobblers and U.P. Trappers Association, among others. Additionally, he served as a Michigan United Conservation Clubs Region 1 Policy Board member.

Kobasic was named a “Partner in Conservation” by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 2006. He was appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder to the statewide ORV Advisory Workgroup in 2010, and to the Michigan Trails Advisory Council in 2014.

Ettenhofer said Kobasic also had an impact on U.P. Whitetails’ legal work.

“He was very instrumental in helping us with legislation,” he said. According to Ettenhofer, one of the most notable legislative efforts Kobasic played a role in was the passage of a bill for the right to obtain a second buck tag during archery season.

State Sen. Tom Casperson said he and Kobasic had been discussing political issues (primarily those related to the outdoors) for years.

“Tim and I had communicated all the way through since I was elected,” he said.

Casperson said he appreciated these discussions.

“We didn’t always agree on issues, but he always had a way … of being respectful about it, and we could talk candidly about it,” he said.

Another way Kobasic was involved with the Upper Peninsula’s outdoors was by hosting his radio show “Trails and Tales Outdoor Radio,” which aired on Saturdays on multiple stations across the U.P.

“I worked with Tim for many years — I consider him a coworker and a friend,” Jim Pinar, morning DJ for WDBC (one of the stations “Trails and Tales” aired on) said.

He added that Kobasic displayed an admirable commitment to showing both sides of the issues he discussed, regardless of his own feelings towards them.

“I think he was very fair at all times,” Pinar said.

In addition to his presence on local radio, Kobasic wrote a regular column focusing on the outdoors. This column typically ran on Fridays in the Daily Press.

Kobasic also wrote a weekly outdoors column that ran in the Daily Press for years.

“The readers loved Tim’s column and it was a favorite of mine, as well. He had a real passion for the things he wrote about and it showed in his writing. I looked forward to reading his column every week,” Daily Press Editor Brian Rowell said. “The last column he published about deer camp traditions I thought was one of his best. Tim will be missed.”

Daily Press Sports Editor Denny Grall said Kobasic was an ideal fit for the paper.

“He loved everything outdoors, which is why I asked him years ago to write a weekly column for our outdoor page. He knew just about everything on every subject, and if he didn’t know it totally, he did immediate research and provided excellent details for our readers,” he said.

Along with his efforts related to the outdoors, Kobasic was known in the area through his job as a paramedic for Rampart EMS.

“He saved many, many lives in this community,” Ettenhofer said. Kobasic was also a member of the Delta County Emergency Operations Center.

Bob VanDamme, who worked with Kobasic as an EMT for Rampart EMS, said Kobasic was highly dedicated to his work in this field.

“He was in the job for the right reason — he was there to help people,” he said.

After Kobasic passed away, VanDamme was a member of the ambulance crew which took his body from Marquette to Escanaba. When the crew arrived in Escanaba, local law enforcement agencies took part in a semi-impromptu processional in honor of Kobasic.

“A kind of processional was created just for the moment for Tim,” VanDamme said.

Along with Rampart EMS, Escanaba Public Safety, the Delta County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police and Delta County Search and Rescue were involved with this processional.

“It just shows how much that the law enforcement/EMS community thought of Tim,” VanDamme said. The Delta County Sheriff’s Office, Delta County Central Dispatch, Gladstone Public Safety, and Escanaba Public Safety have posted about Kobasic on their official Facebook pages, as well.

Kobasic was also involved with initiatives meant to educate youths about outdoor activities, as well as local non-profit organizations.

“He helped out the community in any way he could,” Ettenhofer said.

Grall said Kobasic’s life had an impact on numerous people in the area.

“He was so involved in so many activities throughout this area and the state. His absence will be felt by thousands. God bless Tim, you were a unique individual and a friend to so many,” he said.

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