A Wisconsin pastor has died in a devastating house fire that killed five other members of his family after they ran into the flames to try to save their grandchildren.
Steve Witte, 66, died along with his daughter Charis Kuehl, 38, and her five-year-old daughter Stella, his other daughter Lydia Witte, 35, and two other grandchildren, Lena and Merci Henselin.
The fire broke out Sunday at their vacation rental in Necedah, near Wisconsin Dells, where a family gathering was being held. It’s unclear what caused the blaze.
The pastor initially made it to safety but ran to try to save two of his granddaughters after realizing they were still inside, Witte’s friend, Pastor Larry Schlomer, told WMTV.
“It was such a tremendous loss that there were many deaths within the same family,” he said.
Wisconsin pastor Steve Witte (pictured with his wife Mary) died in a devastating house fire that killed six members of his family after he ran into the inferno to try to save his grandchildren.
“It was amazing. We live our lives preparing for that moment when we can meet our Savior, but when it happens like that, it’s an amazing moment.”
The family had gathered to spend time with Witte after he returned home from a mission in Asia.
The pastor led the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod’s Asia Missions Team.
“His wife, Mary, and his children were very important,” Schlomer added. “So they gathered together so they could enjoy some time while he was returning from his mission field.”
The heartbroken survivors now find themselves having to plan six funerals. Two fundraising campaigns have been organised to help.
TO GoFundMe A fund has been established for Kuehl’s widow and two surviving children, as well as a GiveSendGo For Lena and Merci’s family.
Mother Charis Kuehl died tragically along with her youngest daughter, five-year-old Stella.
Pastor Witte’s other daughter, Lydia Witte, was among the victims, along with her three nieces.
The Henselins’ grief is compounded by the loss of their 12-year-old son Joel in a freak strangulation accident less than a year ago.
Hannah and Karl Henselin have lost three children in the space of a year.
“The pain of losing six family members cannot be described in words,” said WELS President Mark Schroder.
“Thank God, several family members survived. At this time, there are many unanswered questions; authorities are continuing to investigate.”
The Juneau County Sheriff’s Office said they were called to the property around 2:25 a.m. Sunday.
The house was completely engulfed in flames with two or three people trapped inside.
The Juneau County Sheriff’s Office said they were called to the property around 2:25 a.m. Sunday.
Firefighters found three people trapped inside and battled the flames for about three hours.
As survivors were being pulled from the building, officers were told that six people were missing.
Firefighters battled the flames for three hours in total and were unable to save those inside.
Neighbor Ken Zielinski said the flames reached up to 20 feet high.
“During the day we were close by, so we could hear the kids playing in the pool and now… it’s a shame,” he said. WELCOME.