Third child identified by family in Lake Geneva boating accident
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Three children who died after a boat capsized during a severe storm on Geneva Lake have been identified as 10-year-old Kathryn “Kate” Schmidt, 7-year-old Abigail Oswald, and 6-year-old Caleb Oswald.
The children were identified by their fathers through separate GoFundMe pages, where the families shared memories of their children and described the loss they are experiencing.
The accident happened Friday afternoon when a severe storm moved across Geneva Lake, bringing wind gusts up to 100 mph. A boat carrying 10 people capsized during the storm.
Investigators said the boat was operated by a 47-year-old man, who reportedly had extensive boating experience. As weather conditions deteriorated, authorities said the driver attempted to reach shore, but large waves struck the boat, causing it to overturn.
Officials said all of the children on board were wearing properly fitted life jackets. The three children were found inside the sunken boat.
While the waters of Geneva Lake have returned to calm conditions, reminders of the tragedy remain.
Nearby, volunteers with Operation BBQ Relief are helping residents recover from the storm by providing meals to those affected. The organization plans to feed about 200 people over two days as the community begins rebuilding.
“There's an emotional nourishment. There’s sometimes a spiritual nourishment,” said Andy Feest, a volunteer with Operation BBQ Relief.
The organization was founded following the devastating tornado in Joplin, Missouri.
“They learned from the locals and the EMS folks there is a significant mass feeding gap in the immediate response phase of a disaster,” said Feest.
On GoFundMe, the children’s families are remembering them through tributes and by raising money for causes close to their children.
Schmidt’s father wrote that Kate was an amazing girl who “didn’t have a mean bone in her body.”
Abigail’s father described his daughter as someone who was full of personality and had the quickest wit of anyone they knew.
He remembered his son, Caleb, as a child fascinated by trucks who could spend hours playing with them.
You can find a fundraiser for the Oswald family here, and for the Schmidt family here.