NECEDAH, Wis. — An outpouring of support is coming in for the families of the six victims killed in a fire in Necedah Sunday.

What You Need To Know

  • The victims were identified as Pastor Steve Witte, his adult daughters Lydia Witte and Chris Kuehl and his three young granddaughters Stella Kuehl and Lena and Merci Henselin

  • Steve Witte had previously worked at churches in De Pere and Green Bay

  • He was vacationing in Necedah with his family when the fire broke out

  • At the time of publication, two fundraisers set up to help the survivors have already raised a combined total of over $100,000

The victims were identified as Pastor Steve Witte, his adult daughters Lydia Witte and Chris Kuehl and his three young granddaughters Stella Kuehl and Lena and Merci Henselin.

Jason Zuehlke is the pastor at St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Lisbon. He first got the call about the fire Sunday morning, and went to meet with survivors that night.

“Had a devotion, and some prayer with them,” Zuehlke said. “Because that's the first concern. That was the first thing I want to make sure I did.”

Zuehlke has been a pastor for six years, and has counseled people through some difficult times. He said this situation was especially heartbreaking.

“Those things get me to tear up because there's almost no greater loss in this world than your family like that, especially so horrendously,” Zuehlke said.

Steve Witte had previously worked at churches in De Pere and Green Bay. He was vacationing in Necedah with his family when the fire broke out.

Larry Schlomer is the adminstrator of the board for World Missions at the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).

He said Witte was a good friend.

“Steve was always a bundle of energy, enthusiasm, and happiness,” Schlomer said. “You couldn't sit in a meeting without him cracking some jokes that just fit really well, would put everybody at ease, and made even difficult situations a joy to work with.”

The community has come together in a short time to support the families. WELS is planning on covering funeral costs for the victims.

At the time of publication, two fundraisers set up to help the survivors have already raised a combined total of over $100,000. 

“I know a lot of us are gathering with family over this week, and so I think a lot of us just have that reminder of how this could have touched any one of us,” Schlomer said.

Zuehlke said he and his church community will continue to rally around the families in any way they can, whether physically or spiritually.

“To see a community rally like that, and then to see the church rally like that with the love of Christ, it's incredible how fast that works,” he said.

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