The tragic death of Parker Kruse, a 22-year-old whose body was discovered in the Wisconsin River, has prompted his parents to raise awareness about the incident with the aim of assisting others.
22-year-old Parker Kruse attempted to assist in the rescue of a person who fell into the Wisconsin River following a collision between two boats on July 3, 2021.
Jackie Johnson-Kruse, the mother of the departed individual, expressed her ongoing grief by stating, “And we’re still missing him. We’ll miss him for the rest of our lives.”
A group of canoeists stumbled upon his remains almost a year later.
Johnson-Kruse believes that the propeller of the other boat cut off a piece of Parker’s life jacket and likely caused his injury. She also noted that the individual who was rescued was not wearing a life jacket and did not have a kill switch, likely due to his inability to swim.
Jackie and her husband Joel have been sharing their son’s story through a Facebook group since he went missing in July 2021. Their goal is to prevent similar tragic incidents from happening to others.
According to the speaker, many people have reached out to share their experiences since Parker’s story came to light. They have expressed that because of Parker, they are able to take one more step and face their fears. When they come across a river, they think of Parker and say, “not today, river.”
With the support of the Arena community, the family has been successful in raising funds for their cause. In fact, just a few days after the anniversary of Parker’s disappearance, members of the community came together to show their support and contribute to the fundraising efforts.
Terry Askevold, a friend of the Johnson-Kruse family and owner of Trader’s Bar & Grill, hosts events at his Island Campground located near the river. Last year, he organized a fundraiser to offer support to Parker’s family.
Askevold praised Parker, describing him as an extraordinary young man who selflessly gave up his life to save someone else. He remarked that there is no greater act of nobility than sacrificing oneself for another person.
In memory of their Good Samaritan, the family is planning to launch a nonprofit called ‘Promise Parker Search & Rescue.’ This organization will offer support to the loved ones of anyone who goes missing in the Wisconsin River. Jackie and her family hope that this initiative will provide some comfort and assistance to those who are going through a similar experience.
According to her, taking a four-month break to search for someone is not feasible, but they are willing to do what they can. She added that if such a need arises again in their locality, they would like to extend their support to the affected family.
If you’re interested in supporting the family’s cause, you can easily get in touch with them via the ‘Promise Parker’ Facebook page.
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