JET WITH FAMOUS PASSENGERS CAUSES A STIR AT LOCAL AIRPORT

A DreamWorks jet and some famous passengers made a bit of a stir at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Friday afternoon.

Actress Kate Capshaw dropped her daughter, Jessica, off at the airport to attend the funeral of her former mother-in-law, Juanita Capshaw of Chaffee.

Passengers in the plane included Tom Hanks, who has twice won an Academy Award for best actor, and his wife, actress Rita Wilson.

Kate Capshaw was once married to Robert H. Capshaw II, now of New York City. Since 1991, she has been married to Director Steven Spielberg.

Mike Kohlfeld, son-in-law to the late Juanita Capshaw, said 22-year-old Jessica, attended the wake Friday night and Saturday funeral.

"The real story is that we've lost a saint," he said of his mother-in-law. "Barb's mom was the most unbelievable woman. She battled cancer the last three months and prayed for everyone else under the sun but herself."

Late Friday afternoon, staff members at the Air Evac offices first spotted Hanks and Wilson at the airport.

Vickie Moses of Whitewater said the "humongous jet" from DreamWorks landed about 3:30 p.m. Friday. DreamWorks is Spielberg's film production company.

"I saw a guy out at the courtesy phone and I told the office manager, Eileen Kluesner, that he looked like Tom Hanks. She said, 'No, get out of here.' Another pilot was standing at the counter, and I told him it looked like Tom Hanks, but he didn't believe me either," said Moses.

But she was persistent. Moses went out into the lobby and said, "Hey, Tom," and Hanks, dressed in a flannel shirt, blue jeans and work boots, turned around.

"I knew it was him," said Moses. "I said, `You probably wouldn't want to give little people like me an autograph.' and he said, 'Of course, I would. That's why I'm here.'"

He autographed two pieces of Air Evac letterhead, one for Moses and another for Kluesner, with "Peace, Tom Hanks."

Torey Kern, another Air Evac worker who is also a senior at Notre Dame, also had a chance to talk about 10 minutes with actress Jessica Capshaw as she waited for a ride to Chaffee.

"She was great," he said. "I shook her hand twice."