I would like to thank everyone for their kind words and wishes regarding one of our owners--Bill Fiebranz. It has been a rough week and the outpouring of support has been tremendous. Everyone wants to know more, but unfortunately we know nothing more than what has been in the newspapers:

"North Metro / Tackle store owner missing
Wheelchair found at Mississippi landing
BY MARY BAUER
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 04/03/2007 12:07:10 AM CDT


Four days of searching the Mississippi River have not turned up any clues in the disappearance of an owner of a well-known Fridley fishing tackle store.

But family and friends are holding out hope that Bill Fiebranz, 38, will soon return to his Blaine home, and to work at Thorne Bros. Custom Rod and Tackle.

"We miss him, and we just want him to come home," said Jenny Lewnau, who is Fiebranz's stepdaughter.

"We are asking people to keep his family in their prayers and hope for the best," said Josh Roundsley, co-owner of the shop with Fiebranz. "We're pretty close here. It's like another family."

Fiebranz's wife, Pamela Fiebranz, reported him missing at 3:40 p.m. Thursday, according to police in Blaine. He was last seen at 7 a.m. last Tuesday at the store, which is often cited by Field Stream magazine as one of the top 10 bait-and-tackle shops in the nation.

Pamela Fiebranz told police that calls to his cell phone had gone unanswered, authorities said. It was uncharacteristic of her husband to be gone without telling her because he is paraplegic, she told them.

The family first contacted police after about two days had passed because that's the customary time requirement before authorities will consider an adult to be missing, said Lewnau, who is Pamela Fiebranz's daughter.

Blaine police contacted the General Motors OnStar dispatch center requesting they search for Fiebranz's 2005 Silverado pickup truck using the vehicle's global positioning system.

At 4:08 p.m. Thursday, Sherburne County sheriff's deputies found the empty truck on Minnesota 24 at Clearwater, Minn., near a boat landing on the Mississippi River. They found what they believe is his wheelchair partially submerged off the ramp.

Area rescue crews searched the Mississippi on Thursday and Friday by sonar and boat and with dive teams. On Monday, the Minnesota State Patrol used a helicopter to search a stretch of the river between Clearwater and Anoka.

It did not appear Fiebranz was fishing or testing equipment at the ramp, said Blaine Police Chief David Johnson, nor was there evidence pointing to suicide.

"Foul play is not suspected," he said. "But we don't know what the circumstances are. It's an open missing-person investigation looking at all aspects of what could have occurred."

He said he was unsure if boat or dive searches would resume because the Mississippi's waters are high and moving fast.

Roundsley said nothing appeared amiss when he last saw Fiebranz on Tuesday morning. It was a hectic week, Roundsley said, as the store prepares for a large fishing show. He and other staff thought Fiebranz had an appointment, he said.

Fiebranz and Josh Roundsley bought Thorne Bros. in 2004. Roundsley described Fiebranz, who had worked there for more than 15 years, as a fixture of the store.

"He is a great friend and business partner," Roundsley said. "He took his job very seriously and was very good at what he did."

Fiebranz was a rod maker and managed the rod shop before buying the store, when he assumed many of the company's financial operations, Roundsley said. He is also, of course, an avid fisherman.

"We all are here," Roundsley said. "You don't buy a tackle shop and not fish."

The store is cited often by fishing enthusiasts in magazines, Internet chat rooms and blogs as a must-visit site if you're in Minnesota. Many of Thorne Bros.' 15 employees are well-known in different areas of the fishing world for their mastery in making specialty jigs or rods, Roundsley said.

In recent days, the store's focus has turned to Fiebranz.

"With the hours we keep, we're very tight," Roundsley said.

Fiebranz is described as white, 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 185 pounds, with brown eyes. He is paraplegic and unable to walk, the result of injuries suffered in a snowmobile accident.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about Fiebranz's disappearance to contact the Blaine Police Department at 763-785-6168 or the Anoka County Sheriff's Office at 763-427-1212.

Dave Orrick contributed to this report.

Mary Bauer can be reached at mbauer@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5311."


Again, I would like to thank everyone for their kind words and wishes. It really does mean a lot. Keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.

One thing I need to address is that our Custom Rod Shop is still firing on all cylinders. Bill's the contact person that just about everyone got to deal with when it came to having a custom rod built. Lonnie Murphy has been building our custom rods for 16 years (long before Bill started here) and will continue to do so. In addition to heading up the Rod Shop, he will now be the main contact person if you are looking to have a rod built. We're not going away, we're just going through a very difficult time.
Thanks again,
Brett Erickson
www.thornebros.com

Family Searches River for Missing Blaine Man

Caroline Lowe
Reporting

(WCCO) Six days after a wheelchair and truck belonging to 38-year-old Bill Fiebranz of Blaine were found at a boat landing on the Mississippi River in Clearwater, Minn., his family and friends took out two boats with sonar equipment to look for the missing man.

The search Wednesday followed several days of water and air searches by law enforcement that began after Fiebranz disappeared last week and his wife reported him missing.

He was last seen on Tuesday eight days ago at his well-known fishing tackle store in Fridley. His family said he showed no signs of depression or distress before he vanished.

Fiebranz is a paraplegic who overcame a snowmobile accident to become owner of Thorn Brothers store, called one of the country's best by Field and Stream magazine.

"He didn't have an ounce of self pity in his body," said Bob Fiebranz, Bill's brother.

A deputy from the Sherburne County water patrol also took part in the search Wednesday.

Police believe there is a strong possibility Fiebranz is in the water near where his wheelchair and truck were found.

His family is very concerned but still has hope that he is alive.

"I hope that he orchestrated something and he's disappeared. For him to be anywhere but here would be good," said his brother.

Anyone who may have information on the missing fishing tackle store owner is asked to call the Blaine Police Department at 763-228-5311.

Wcco video update of search:

http://wcco.com/video/?id=25597@wcco.dayport.com

Brett Erickson

Me and my wife will be praying for Bill and his family. I've only spoken to Bill a couple of times over the years and I thought he was a nice guy. I hope he is found soon.

Mike Potter
LSF

I just wanted to let everyone know that we are thinking of Bill everyday and hoping that the puzzle will fall together vary soon. He needs to get back to his rightful place in life ( with his wife and business). My wife and I hold a place in our hearts for Bill and every one at Thorne Bros. GOD BLESS

Our hearts and prayers are with the family as we mourn Bill's loss.
The search for a missing Fridley tackle shop owner ended Wednesday night when the Wright County Sheriff's Water Patrol found the body of William Fiebranz in the Mississippi River.
News Story