Steven Witte,Charis Kuehl Obituary, – The six family members who perished in a Wisconsin house fire were a former pastor, two of his daughters, and three of his granddaughters, according to authorities and church officials.
The Juneau County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday that 66-year-old Steven Witte, 38-year-old Charis Kuehl, and 35-year-old Lydia Witte lost their lives in the fire that occurred early Sunday morning in Necedah. The names of the three children, aged 2, 5, and 8, who also died in the blaze were not disclosed by the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Andrew Zobal did not respond immediately to a voicemail left by The Associated Press at his office today. Staff at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Green Bay and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod President Mark Schroeder released a joint statement, revealing that Steve Witte had served as a missionary in Thailand and as a pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church from 2001 to 2009. Lydia Witte and Charis Kuehl were his daughters, and the three children were his granddaughters.
The Rev. Larry Schlomer, WELS World Missions Administrator, informed WMTV-TV that the family was having a gathering at the house when the fire broke out. “It was such a tremendous loss, that many deaths within the same family,” Schlomer said. The state fire marshal is aiding in the investigation into the fire, but the sheriff’s office stated in its release on Tuesday that the fire seems to have been accidental.
