The family of the third child who drowned last week after a boat capsized in Geneva Lake during a massive storm said in an online fundraiser that the young girl’s “kindness and joy touched everyone she met.”
The family identified Kathryn Schmidt, 10, of Batavia, on the verified GoFundMe page that launched late Wednesday. Her two cousins, 7-year-old Abigail Oswald and 6-year-old Caleb Oswald, also died in the July 3 boating incident.
“Kate was an amazing girl with a bubbly personality, and she didn’t have a mean bone in her body,” her family said. “Whether you met her once or knew her well, she would brighten your life any time of day.”
The fundraiser page went on to say Schmidt loved playing tennis and softball, spending time with animals, painting and hanging out with friends. Schmidt’s hard work earned her the highest girls’ tennis ranking in Batavia and placed her among the top 100 girls under 12 in the state of Illinois, her family said in an obituary.
Her family said the money raised will go toward helping children in need who can’t afford sports like tennis or softball, or who wish to adopt animals.
“This is something that will keep her memory shining in our lives and in the lives of others, carrying forward the love and generosity she always showed,” it said.
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The obituary said Schmidt attended Grace McWayne Elementary School in Batavia and that she was a “talented singer” who performed in a choir. A visitation is scheduled on Monday.
The Oswald family also said they hope to donate money to support children on a separate verified GoFundMe page. The family said Abigail “was kind, loving, and wise beyond her years” and that Caleb “had the sweetest heart and a smile that could brighten anyone’s day.” The siblings attended Lincoln Elementary School in Wheaton, officials said.
The children were among 10 people who were aboard a privately owned 25-foot 2024 Nautique P25 Friday afternoon as a massive storm swept into the region, capsizing the vessel and sending all the passengers overboard.
The Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency confirmed the identity of the children Thursday evening and said their cause of death is asphyxia due to freshwater drowning. They ruled it an accident.
In a news release Monday, officials said that the passengers ranged in ages from 6 to 75. Investigation records show that all the children on board the vessel were wearing life jackets of proper size and fit, authorities said.
They added that the man operating the boat had “extensive boating experience” and had sought shelter as the weather rolled in, but conditions deteriorated too quickly.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm brought winds between 90 and 100 mph to Walworth County, where Geneva Lake and the longtime vacation destination Lake Geneva are located. That’s roughly equivalent to winds that would come with a Category 2 hurricane.
Onlookers also drew comparisons between Friday’s storm and hurricanes in interviews with the Tribune, reporting 6-foot whitecaps and flipped-over boats amid “vicious” winds.
baiduhai’s Caroline Kubzansky contributed.