NKC music teacher, father, Vietnam vet among victims in Butler plane crash

BUTLER, Mo. -- A father of two whose smile could light up the room. A beloved North Kansas City school teacher. A Vietnam veteran who learned to fly in war time. They are just some of the 12 victims in Sunday's crash of a skydiving plane now being remembered. Dane Cordes fiancee Natalie Sickle said he loved anything fast and the freedom of skydiving and being up in the sky. Cordes was among the 12 people killed late Sunday morning when the plane full of skydivers with Skydive KC crashed shortly after takeoff from the Butler Memorial Airport. To know Dane was to love Dane. His laugh and smile can light up a room.Dane was far from a boring ordinary guy. He was spontaneous and always up and ready to do the next wild adventure. He loved anything fast. Fast bikes, fast cars, fast boat rides and knee boarding. Dane especially loved the freedom of skydiving and being up in the sky. He would always say there’s no other feeling like it. Dane is an amazing partner to me who knew how to make me smile and laugh. He was supportive in anything I wanted to do. Most importantly Dane is an above and beyond dad to his two boys Atlas and Benson. I will make sure our boys know that their dad was a selfless determined anchor in this world. May your beautiful soul rest in peace when you ride or fly through the pearly gates. I love you forever, Sickle wrote in a statement provided to FOX4. As investigators from NTSB arrived Monday to begin investigating the crash, a Butler restaurant owner and friend of the pilot says he's sure he did all he could to avoid the crash. Ben Besendorfer said the pilot, who FOX4 is not naming as he has yet to be publicly identified, had a special bond with the Skydive KC staff who filmed jumps and helped novice skydivers in tandem jumps. "I know he took care of everybody who was around. He helped everybody who was around. I know it, just the way he was when he was around," Besendorfer said. North Kansas City School orchestra teacher Dave Hershberger spent summers working at the skydive company. The school district notified Oak Park and Antioch families Monday the 11-year veteran teacher was also killed in the crash. Mr. Hershberger was a beloved member of the Antioch and Oak Park family and was not only a passionate educator and talented musician, but one of the kindest humans. Mr. Hershberger has inspired so many of our students through his love for music and the way he treated others every day. He modeled appreciation and genuine care for everyone who was lucky enough to know him. On behalf of everyone in our community, we have shared our condolences with Mr. Hershberger’s family. We are working closely with them to provide support where we can. I hope you’ll join me in keeping his loved ones in your thoughts and hearts, the school district communicated to families. The school district plans to have counselors at Antioch Middle School Tuesday from 9 a.m. until noon to help students and staff mourning the loss. The NTSB says they've been in contact with victim's families and are providing them resources and also will try to keep them up to date with the findings of their investigation. McPappy's Food Truck is helping to organize a memorial motorcycle ride for Cordes Saturday, June 20. It will begin at the Love's Travel Stop on North Ameristar Drive at 10 a.m. and conclude at the Dollar General at Richmond, Missouri. Hot dogs will be provided from noon until 4 p.m. for a $5 donation to the family.