Otto H. Thede, John “Jack” Thede, and William “Bill” Thede were ice fishing off of Rose Island, MI near Sebewaing, MI. Jack must have had a bad feeling about a turn in the weather and insisted to his father and brother that he wanted to get back to shore immediately if not sooner! He said, “I want to go home, I want go home now!” The Perch were biting well. This did not make the rest of the group happy. It was clear that a storm was on the way with the aggressive fish bite, a dropping barometer, and changes in the sky.
On the return back into shore, there was a large crack in the ice outside of the Maisou Island a few feet wide. This crack extended as far as the eye could see. It had widened since the trip out. Prepared for this possibility, thick wooden planks were carried in the back of Otto’s green Jeep pickup. The planks were placed across the crack and Jack and Bill held the planks in place while Otto drove the front tires onto the planks. With the weight of the truck holding the planks into place, Otto drove it across the crack.
Other people were likely feeling that a storm was brewing. Burdette Myers was returning to shore next and was unable to get across the crack without using these same planks. Additional vehicles were lining up. The planks were left to help everyone else return safely and Burdette was encouraged to charge $4 per vehicle. Burdette was responsible for returning the wooden planks once everyone was across. A few hours later, Burdette returned to Bud’s Landing at Rose Island and had dollar bills sticking out of all of his pockets. Otto and Bill drove Jack home and then returned to Bud’s Landing. There they enjoyed some beverages, coffee, and pie. At approximately 5pm, Otto and Bill returned back to their homes.
That same day, Bud Thede was out fishing with a group of people using his Jeep and a bobsled. His wife, Margaret Thede became increasing concerned with the storm looming and Bud had not returned yet. Between dinner and 8pm, it started to snow and blow heavily. Margaret called for help.
Otto and Bill took Otto’s 1947 Willy’s Jeep “the little red Jeep” to Brad’s Gas Station to install angle iron diamond snow chains on every tire. This Jeep may have been small, but it packed a big punch! It could be outfitted with a front snow plow, a three point hitch to use implements the same as a tractor, and operate a winch that was driven by a power take off (PTO) on the back. Bill called in some help to Jerry Adams. Jerry joined the group and using this Willy’s Jeep, the group drove out from Bud’s Landing onto the ice following the Christmas trees that were used to mark the way to the islands. They found Bud about 1.5 miles from Bud’s Landing. His Jeep was stuck. Using the Willy’s Jeep, the group made quick work out of pulling Bud’s Jeep out of the deep snow. Otto asked the person riding the bobsled if he caught any fish. Between the storm, getting stuck, being cold, the gentlemen was not happy! After catching up on the happenings, all parties returned to shore.
It continued to snow and blow all night long. The Coast Guard reached out to Otto for assistance. They needed a local person that new the area to help assist many stranded people that were still out on the ice. From the islands to Wildner Road at Thomas’s and Bay City. Otto, Bill, and Jerry went out on the ice again. With a Coast Guard provided radio, the three covered the area. Four to five people were picked up and transported to a pre-determined area that a helicopter could land to return people back to shore. This was repeated several times. All of the cars and fishing shanties on the ice were checked for people. Lives may have been lost if it were not for these efforts.