Email from Bruce Johnson tonight that Rusty passed away this evening.
Funeral arrangements to come. Will post when available.
Our sincere sympathy go out to Julie and all Rusty’s friends, such a tragic loss.
He will be missed greatly. My heart goes out to his family and close friends in this time of grief. May no one forget what he meant to the river, the fishermen, hunters, and outdoorsmen who are lucky enough to enjoy the Ausable river
-Jeff
http://www.midcurrent.com/news/2009/12/rusty-gates-dies.html
that sucks. he was diagnosed with cancer last winter as I recall. at least he had one last summer on the Au Sable.
Another Season on the AuSable, tougher but with some good memories of a gentle and caring man.
Last night I checked into my email at the last minute before turning in for the night. This was the news I was hoping wouldn’t come yet. I am so sorry to hear it.
The Ausable River and the State of Michigan lost a good man. To me, he will always be the “River Keeper”. The guardian of the AuSable.
It was the words in his book, “Seasons of the AuSable” and in the weekly fishing reports, that brought me back to my old home waters…this time with a fly rod, instead of a canoe. ( I used to canoe the AuSable and Manistee in my youth). I enjoyed going into the shop and talking with him over a morning coffee, picking up little pieces of wisdom. The river became my “home waters” once again, as she just kept calling me back. (over 9 weeks on river there this year) I will miss, Da Gator, very much.
I also know I can find him again, in spirit, when I’m fishing the “Holy Waters” of the Ausable and the other rivers in Michigan. I’ll hear his voice in the splash of a fish, the sound of the river and in the voices of the woods.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Julie and the family and the rest of the “Gates Family”, those who came to know Rusty and his tireless work for the rivers of Michigan.
God speed my friend.
Anglers of the AuSable…Remembering Rusty Gates
http://www.ausableanglers.org/i4a/pa…x.cfm?pageid=1
Balled of Rusty Gates:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx_Fst7uCCY
River Of Sand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URHppoKdeUM
With this news, I’ve decided to send my portion of the JC memorial, where it can do the most good, to Anglers of the AuSable in memory of Jim Birkholm.
[LEFT]
[/LEFT]
My notice from Caring Bridge was the first thing I saw when I opened for the day.
While I know Rusty is finally no longer in pain, the pain of those left behind still continues. My love and prayers go out to Julie and their family. We have truly lost a great advocate for the AuSable.
Deb,
If you would have the address of the “Angles of the AuSable” I’d like to have it. A donation will be forthcoming.
Please let me know when & where I can make a donation in Rusty’s honor.
it is with my deepest reguards that I wish the familys my sympithys. Have lost those i have loved before during this time of you I know how hard it is. I didnt know the man but I bet I would have liked him. May the creator bless him with rivers overflowing with fish. and his familys with the stranght to go on and live every day knowing he is in their hearts…
Here Ray.
There is no question where Rusty would like you to remember him.
Donations can be made the the Anglers of the AuSable here:
https://www.ausableanglers.org/i4a/forms/form.cfm?id=17&pageid=3480&showTitle=1
If I hear of any more …I’ll post it here.
UPDATED as it appears on Anglers of the AuSable web site.
[LEFT]Memorial contributions can be made to the Anglers or Heartland Hospice, 417 W. Houghton Street E, West Branch, MI 48661.
To make a contribution to the Anglers:[/LEFT]
[LEFT]1. Go to the Anglers website: www.ausableanglers.org
2. At the top menu go to the “Membership” pull down menu
3. The last option is “Make a Donation”
4. There is an option for a memorial gift “In Honor Of”
The second option is to send a check with a notation that this is a memorial gift. Send to: Anglers of the Au Sable, 403 Black Bear Dr., Grayling, MI 49738[/LEFT]
Prayers go out to all Rusty’s loved ones.
He will be missed.
Mike
We have ALL Lost another GOOD Friend.
GOD Speed, Rusty You will be Missed.
That is sad news. I met him while attending the MI Fish IN of 2008. This man was not only a staunch supporter of the Au Sable but was a wonderful man whom always had time to talk to a fisherman new or experienced.
I will never forget the first thing he said to me when we first met. I told him who I was and that I was rooming with Jack Hise. He had a colorfull comment about the people I ran with and gave me hell for a good five minutes
I will miss him as will all that have crossed paths with this gentleman.
My prayers go out to his family and friends.
God Bless you Rusty
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
Rusty was a gift from God. He will be missed by his many friends. I pray that Gods love and grace bring peace to his family and friends in the days ahead.
christopher
Thank you Rusty for all you’ve done for fly fishing, the AuSable & FAOL. I’ll see you sooner than later. Say hi to Al and Jim for me. You are missed.
Being a Michigan guy since the day I was born and the Au Sable being my “Home waters” I had the pleasure of knowing Rusty. Gates was one of the very first fly shops I ever went into back in the 80’s and anytime we were up in Grayling we’d have to stop into the shop and BS with Rusty for a bit. He was really just a heck of a great guy. Always willing to share stories and info as well as just sit and chew the fat with ya. When I hadn’t heard any updates on him for awhile I somewhat had a feeling he might not have been doing all that well with the cancer.
This is certainly very sad news. The Au Sable has lost one of it’s best friends and biggest supporters in Rusty Gates. But what rusty accomplished in his life is something that we will all remember and enjoy for many years to come because of him.
Steve
Very sad. Prayers sent from Pennsylvania as well.
There will be two viewings Tuesday the 22nd at the Sorenson Lockwood Funeral Home in Grayling. One from 2-4 and one from 6-8.
Funeral service will be Wednesday the 23rd at 1 pm at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Grayling with a luncheon to follow.
Our prayers for Julie and family. Rusty was quite a force for the Au Sable! The world has lost a good’un for sure.
May God Bless Rusty, his family and all his friends!
John & Vicki
My prayers and condolences go out to his family too.
He was such a great guy. I can remember my first trip to his shop, back in '04. It was somewhat of a dream come true to be at the banks of that amazing little river. I must have spent hours talking to him over a few cups of coffee that first day. It was like that every time I went up there. It’s so sad to see the fly fishing industry losing so many great people this year…but then again, if you think about where they most likely are, I’m sure NONE of them are complaining!
We’ll miss you Rusty,
TT.
Having know Rusty for a few decades, I can say he will be sorely missed. It’s rare to find a person with such passion for not just the sport, but the river he protected and defended to his all too-quick ending.
We can only hope that someone else picks up the ball where Rusty left off but it seems mere mortals would have thrown in the towel long ago in battling the oil companies and others who want to rape and pillage that sacred land that was deeded to us by earlier generations of auto magnates (back when they had brains AND a conscience)
Rusty always seemed to have time for a cup of coffee and to show how to tie some of his truly great patterns.
This is a sad time for lovers of ‘The Holy Water’.
Thanks for protecting these little guys and their bigger cousins:
and thanks for the nice spot to just sit and reflect a while:
Thanks for being with us this short time on Earth and God Bless you!