WISCONSIN (NBC 26) — The year 2019 began with a shocking conclusion to maybe the biggest story of the year before.
After 88 days, Barron teenager Jayme Closs was found alive.
"For 88 days, I have stood before you and said we would work tirelessly to bring Jayme Closs home," Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said. "Today, I can report we did just that."
Community members who never gave up hope, who for months rallied behind Jayme, were able to welcome her home.
This year, not everybody would make it home safe. Shawano County brothers Nicholas and Justin Diemel went missing July 21. Authorities later learned they were killed when they went to Missouri on business. A suspect has been arrested and is being charged with killing the brothers.
Appleton firefighter Mitch Lundgaard was killed on the job on May 15. For weeks, the community came together and mourned together.
"Today we say goodbye to Mitchell Frank Lundgaard, just a couple months shy of his 37th birthday," friend Justin Wisneski said at the funeral. "He's the most caring, giving, honorable person you could ask to be a friend."
Lundgaard had a wife and three children. The community helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the family.
Months later, another hero would put himself in harms way to protect others. School resource officer Mike Wissink was stabbed inside Oshkosh West High School in December. After a stay in the hospital, Wissink did make it home safe, again with a community rallying behind him.
Weather was a major newsmaker this year. In February, 131 cars were involved in a pileup on Interstate-41. Dozens of people were injured and school teacher Andrew Schefelker was killed.
In sports, the Packers hired a new head coach. Matt LaFleur has returned Green Bay to the team's winning ways, clinching the NFC North. The Packers also said farewell to a legend. In May, Bart Starr passed away at 85 years old. Once again, a hero's tragedy brought a community together. This one also brought Bart's wife, Cherry, back to Lambeau Field.
"For 63 years you have loved and embraced us and supported us, and i am so grateful," she said.
