Paul Humphreys, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 13 of 14

Wedding Rings Found – Silver Lake Park, WI

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)
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P1060110 A Father’s Day boating excersion ended on a dissapointing note for Richard (Rik) Hopper and his wife. Her precious wedding rings slipped from her finger as they frolicked in the summer waters near Silver Lake Park in South-Eastern Wisconsin. I received Rik’s email appeal for help but was unable to schedule a search until today, June 24th.

Rik led the way as we waded out into the lake together–he had done a good job of noting reference points along the shore and had the search grid area narrowed down to the size of a tennis court or larger. A steady supply of pull tabs and bottle caps bore testimony to happier times at the location. But eventually the gleam of gold and diamonds emerged in my sieve which matched the photo on Rik’s cell phone.

“I wasn’t holding my breath.” Rick said. “I am amazed that you found it.” The smile on his face betrayed his joy and relief. Now his focus is turned to a happier task–how he will re-present the lost love token to his unsuspecting bride. [At time of writing she is unaware of Rik’s search arrangments with The Ring Finders and with myself. I can’t wait to hear the rest of this story!] Thanks, Rik, for the privilege of helping the story of your wife’s ring continue. Thanks too for your kind reward. P1060104

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Lost Wedding Band Found in Snow at Cudahy, WI

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)
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McGrath SmileAn icy patch on the sidewalk in front of Brian McGrath’s home proved treacherous when Brian’s feet slipped out from underneath him. After collecting himself on a set of nearby steps he removed a glove and began dusting the snow and grit from his coat, but as he did so, he felt his heavy, white-gold wedding ring leave his finger. It seemingly vanished into the whiteness around him.

Despite Brian’s best search efforts the ring eluded discovery, even when he rented a metal detector. And his dissapointment only intensified when someone told him,
“Metal detectors are not able to detect white gold.”

It was then Brian contacted me by email through The Ring Finder’s directory. I assured him that my equipment, tuned properly and under most conditions, was able to ‘see’ white gold just fine. This technological fact, coupled with my thirty-seven years of metal detecting experience was a huge comfort to Brian. We agreed to conduct a search early the next morning.

Coffee cups in hand and bundled up against icy winds coming off Lake Michigan, we reviewed the historical sequence of events on location. Finally, Brian stood at ‘ground zero’ and re-enacted his arm movements (except for his spill of course) to the best of his memory. Then the search began. It didn’t take long, however, until I heard the distinctive bark in my headphones I was anticipating. A few scrapes of white powder was all that was needed to bring Brian’s ring to the light of day once again.

Brian, I enjoyed assisting you with the recovery of your ring. Thanks too, for your kind reward. And all the best to you and your wife as you anticipate a new addition to your family in just a few weeks time! May the story of your ring continue as a treasured family memory for many years ahead. McGrath Ring

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Lost Engagement Ring Found in Snow at Mequon, WI

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)
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P1050743A fun photo session on the snowy shores of Lake Michigan turned to disappointment for newly engaged couple, Brooke Vanderwegen and Josiah Frusti. Enrolled at Concordia University, the couple were in the process of photographing a romantic moment in a picturesque winter wonderland at the University’s Lakeshore campus when the ring somehow slipped from Brooke’s grasp and vanished into the snow. Despite frantic efforts to locate it, the ring eluded discovery.

The following day, Superbowl Sunday, I received an email from Brooke asking if I might assist. The next morning, early, I made my way to Mequon (in a snowstorm) and met up with a hopeful Josiah. I suited up against the icy blast coming off the lake and then followed Josiah down about a hundred steps to the winding pathway below. He stopped at a point where the ring was last seen and where snow-packed evidence of previous searches was now fast fading in a deepening blanket of fresh snow.

The ring’s hiding place was no match for my Minelab Excalibur Detector. Within just a few minutes of dusting the snow’s surface a sweet full-bodied moan from the detector signaled its presence, almost dead center in the pathway. A few careful passes with an extraction blade exposed it to the light of day and to the flash of Josiah’s beaming grin.

Josiah, it was a delight to assist you with the recovery of your future bride’s ring, May its story continue for many, many loving years together.P1050741

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Lost Tungsten Ring Found Fox Brook Park, Wisconsin

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)
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A family outing at Fox Brook Park, near Brookfield, Wisconsin, turned into an all-hands-on-deck search for a tungsten wedding band belonging to Steven Graetz. Despite the best efforts of friends, the ring eluded discovery in the shallow beach. I was out of the country at the time, but Steven still managed to locate me through The Ring Finder’s website and we made search arrangements soon after I returned.

Steve had a good feel for where he lost his ring, within a 400 square foot area. It was only after a 10-minute grid search the elusive ring evoked a distinctive bark on my Minelab Excalibur Detector. I let Steven extract the heavy love-token from my sieve, whereupon he promptly placed it back on his finger with an ear-to-ear grin on his face.

Steve, I enjoyed meeting you and your delightful family. And thanks for your generous reward. Mission accomplished!

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Ring Found – Big Cedar Lake, Wisconsin

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)
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A girl’s weekend away turned to distress when Paula Hatfield’s diamond and sapphire ring slipped off her finger and into the silt of Big Cedar Lake, Wisconsin.

But the cloud turned to sunlight when her ring found its way into my sieve just 5 minutes into the search!

It was such a joy to be able to give your ring back, Paula! And the spontaneous group-hug from your friends on the dock–a wonderful sight to behold!

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Lost Ring Found at Long Lake, Wisconsin

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)
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Mark and Jenny Neuenschwander along with their boys were enjoying a day at Long Lake State Park near Kewaskum, Wisconsin. That is until Mark’s wedding band went missing while playing together in the water. It took a few searches, but the ring finally surfaced in my sieve on August 7th. What a wonderful 14th anniversary gift to be able to return the ring to its happy owner and family. I sure enjoyed meeting you folks and am thrilled that this token of your love is back on your finger, Mark.

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Is This 1960 Wedding Band Yours?

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)
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Is this 1960 wedding band yours? Inscribed April 18, 1960, the keen nose of a family dog lead its owner to investigate. The discovery occurred over a decade ago at a rest stop near Grantsburg, Wisconsin alongside the St. Croix River off State Highway 70.

The conscientious individual that found this ornate love-token desires to return it to the owner or owner’s family. Sadly, much of the inscription is worn away. All that remains, as the photos show, is 14K F. (or J.)….. G. 4-18-’60.

If you recognize this ring or have any information that might help identify its owner, contact: Paul.Humphreys@TheRingFinders.com
262 574 7702.

It is my hope that the finder’s integrity will inspire many

Grantsburg Rest Stop

others to take the same refreshing ‘high road’ in making every reasonable effort to return lost jewelry items to their rightful owner. This is the core value shared by our team at TheRingFinders.com.

Paul Humphreys
Metal Detecting Specialist
TheRingFinders.com
Wisconsin, USA

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Lost Tungsten-Carbide Wedding Ring Found in Racine, Wisconsin

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)
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John Schwartz, of Racine, Wisconsin, was throwing a football in the backyard of his house when disaster struck. He felt his heavy Tungsten-Carbide wedding ring leave his finger. It seemed to vanish into the evening dusk. Despite frantic efforts on his hands and knees, groping through the grass, the ring eluded his touch. In the days to follow he continued to systematically comb the turf, carefully separating the foliage in hopes of glimpsing the missing token of his marriage. Neighbors wondered about the sudden and strange behavior of the young husband next door. A friend even loaned him a metal detector. But it only yielded a confusing cacophony of audio signals–the ground was full of metallic objects. It was futile.

That’s when a search on the internet raised his hopes. At theringfinders.com he was surprised to learn about people like us, people who happily apply many years of metal-detecting expertise to help locate and return sentimental and valuable jewelery items to their owners. A quick phone was all it required. The next afternoon, the elusive wedding band surrendered its hiding place to a Minelab Excalibur. The ring had traveled some 40′ away, almost out of the confines of John’s backyard. He wasted no time planting it firmly on his finger once again. And the smile on his face, well, it just oozed gratitude.

We sure loved helping to recover your ring, John!

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Lost Platinum Ring Found! — Castle Rock Lake, Wisconsin

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)
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Metal detecting is a skill involving inches. I’ll explain.

Castle Rock Lake is the 4nd largest body of water in the State of Wisconsin. It boasts some 13,955 acres and 60 miles of shoreline. By comparison, Mike Ruetz, of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, lost his platinum wedding ring in its waters. The ring does not cover 1 square inch. And if positioned vertically, it covers even less area.

But Mike knew approximately where his ring went missing, within a few hundred square feet that is. So it was a matter of eliminating inches, of ruling out where his ring did not exist.

My son, Scott, joined me as we systematically searched the island sandbar where Mike’s ring went missing. Holiday boaters love to anchor and hang out at this spot. How do I know this? Well, Mike told me so. But the metal-detecting evidence speaks with even more authority. Between us, we extracted and properly disposed of 69 beer caps and 59 aluminum pull-tabs from the sandbar—sad evidence of disregard by some for our precious Wisconsin lakes.

But at last, Mike’s ring found itself cradled in Scott’s stainless-steel sieve. A date, clearly inscribed on the ring’s inside band, 5-29-2010, confirmed one very happy owner’s wedding day!

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Missing Wedding Band at Egg Harbor, Wisconsin—FOUND!

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)
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July 4th weekend was supposed to be a family holiday, a fun time.  But for Phil & Becky Saubetin of Madison, Wisconsin, the day ended on a sad note.  Missing, was Phil’s wedding band.  It went astray at Egg Harbor Beach on the Door County peninsula.

Becky wrote, “No matter how much I tried to tell myself that it was just a token of our marriage…a thing…it’s not.”  She remembered the gold-band’s inscription, “FOR MY PRINCE CHARMING LOVE B.”  Adding to the frustration was the fact that they had glimpsed the ring momentarily in the water.  But as they tried to reach it, the currents of Lake Michigan pushed it out of sight into the sandy silt. Despite their best search efforts and those of strangers who came to their rescue, including one with SCUBA gear, the ring seemed destined to be lost forever, as if swallowed by a sinister monster.

A search on the internet raised the Saubetin’s hopes when they discovered TheRingFinders.com and Metal Detecting Specialist, Paul Humphreys. He lived 3 ½ hours away in Waukesha, WI. Would he even consider helping them?  Yes, he would.  But on the day he and his wife, Kathleen met with Phil and Becky on location at Egg Harbor, the waves were unusually high, whipping the lake’s bottom into a swirl.  The water quickly washed over Paul’s equipment and despite protective measures, the moisture silenced his machine. But Paul was more determined than ever.  He promised to continue the hunt another day armed with underwater equipment.  And he did  just that, returning in the wee small hours of August 4th, exactly one month later.

After nearly two hours, a “loud and proud” bark from his Minelab Excalibur detector was like a trumpet blast announcing an important event.  As sand filtered out from Paul’s stainless-steel scoop, early morning rays reflected off a gold wedding band.  Was it Phil’s?  This question was answered immediately when Paul caught sight of one of the words inscribed inside the band, “CHARMING.”

That night, Phil received an email from Paul.  Its subject line read, “Prince Charming Rides Again!”  And the photos attached bore tangible evidence of what Phil and Becky thought was lost forever.

Early this morning the Saubetin’s arrived at our home to collect their precious token. Phil placed it on his finger amidst family smiles that made the whole room sparkle.  Then their youngest daughter put her arms around her Daddy’s neck, squeezed tightly and asked, “Do you feel married again, Daddy?”  His answer; a mile-wide grin!

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