NECEDAH (NBC 26) — A family with ties to Green Bay and De Pere loses six people to a house fire in Necedah over the weekend.
- Six people were killed in a house fire in West-Central Wisconsin
- Church officials at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Green Bay stated that Steve Witte, two of his daughters, and three granddaughters were killed in the fire
- There are two crowdfunding pages currently raising money for the victims' loved ones
Six people were killed in a house fire in West-Central Wisconsin.
The Juneau County Sheriff's Office said in a news release they got a call at around 2:35 a.m. Sunday for a house fire at W5040 Morros Mile Rd. in Necedah.
Deputies say the home was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters battled the fire for three hours.
According to Church officials at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Green Bay, Steve Witte, a former pastor at the church, was killed in the fire along with 5 members of his family.
A staff minister, Mike Pfeifer, says that Steve Witte stopped in the church on Thursday to say hello as he was passing through town on his way to a family reunion in Necedah this weekend.
Pastor Pfeifer says he has been informed by members of the family that 66-year-old Steve Witte, two of his daughters and three of his granddaughters were killed in the fire.
Those who were killed in the fire:
- Steve Witte
- Two of his daughters: Lydia Witte and Charis Kuehl
- Three of his granddaughters: Stella Kuehl, Lena Henselin, and Merci Henselin
Church officials say the Witte family was together in Necedah this past weekend to celebrate the life of Joel Henselin, the brother of Lena and Merci who were killed in the fire and the son of Hanna Henslin, who survived.
Seth Fitzsimmons of Muskego, Wisconsin is a friend of Charis Kuehl.
"Charis and Stella were dear children of their Heavenly Father. Charis was a fun Christian friend to so many," Fitzsimmons wrote, in part, Monday. "We love the Kuehl family."
Hanna, Steve and Mary Witte’s daughter, lost her two children, her two sisters, her niece, and her father in this single tragedy. Mother of Joel, Lena and Merci Henselin, a family aquaintance tells us this fire means Hanna has lost three of her children in less than a year. She and her family are active members of St. Mark Ministries in De Pere.
If you would like to help, there are two crowdfunding pages taking donations to help the families impacted by this tragic fire. One is organized by a family friend to support Charis' husband and children, another is organized by St. Mark Ministries in support of the Henslin family.
Deputies say the fire appears to be accidental in nature. An investigation is ongoing. Please stay with NBC 26 on air and online as we continue following this story.
