Friends: Grandfather Dies Trying to Save Family in Wisconsin Cabin Fire

The Juneau County Sheriff reports that six people, including three children, died early Sunday morning in a fire in Necedah, Wisconsin.

“The sky was all orange,” neighbor Ken Zielinski told WKOW News. “The flames at that point, which came very quickly, were almost above the jack pines, 20 to 25 feet in the air.”

Family friends told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that Pastor Steve Witte lost his life trying to save his grandchildren from the fire.

“When he found out his granddaughters were in the house, they couldn’t get out, so he went in with one of his daughters, and they never got out,” Pastor Larry Schlomer said. “He was always willing to do whatever it took to serve others.”

Pastor Witte, a missionary in Asia with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, had returned for an extended stay.

“To make the most of their time during the week of July 4, they gathered as a family to spend it together,” Schlomer said.

According to a friend, the extended family was spending time at a vacation rental property.

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod posted on social media that Pastor Witte, his daughter Lydia Witte, her daughter Charis Kuehl and his granddaughters Stella Kuehl, Lena Henselin and Merci Henselin died in the fire.

“Charis and Stella were the beloved children of their Heavenly Father,” a family friend wrote to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. “We love the Kuehl family. Jesus loves them even more. And now they are with Him forever.”

Church members have set up a fundraising page for the surviving Kuehl family.

Pastor Steve Kuehl, Charis’ husband, had just accepted a call to teach at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School in New Ulm and had bought a house before moving from Ohio.

Principal Dr. Timothy Plath told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS the New Ulm community is there to support them when the family arrives later this summer.

The Juneau County Sheriff’s Department said the fire appears to be accidental in nature but remains under investigation.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice and the state fire marshal are assisting in the investigation.