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Funeral arrangements set for pilot in triple fatal plane crash

Posted at 7:35 PM, Feb 26, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-26 20:35:27-05

Funeral services are now set for the 35-year-old pilot involved in a triple fatal plane crash. Visitation for Nathan Saari will be held on Friday, March 2nd from 9:00am to 11:00am at Redeemer Lutheran Church in his hometown of Marquette, Michigan. The funeral service will follow. 

Arrangements for the other two victims, prominent dairy farmer John Pagel and his son-in-law Steven Witcpalek, have not been released yet.

The three men were killed February 22nd when their Cessna 441 plane crashed in central Indiana while flying to Green Bay. 

Pagel owned a large dairy farm in Kewaunee County and several businesses including Ron's Cheese in Luxemburg and the Cannery restaurant in Green Bay. He was also a leader with the Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and served as a board member for Kewaunee County and the Kewaunee School District. Superintendent Karen Treml said he will be greatly missed.

"What kind of person was the John that I knew? Always a smile on his face. Always a 'What can I do for you? What do you need? If you need that, I'll be there.'"

The NTSB and FAA are investigating. They said the preliminary crash report should be released over the next two weeks, but it will be at least a year before the final cause is determined.