Audio Wisconsin community says goodbye to three who were among six killed while hunting (story audio) Photos Funeral for the Crotteaus Balloons for Laski Memorial for Joe Crotteau View full slideshow (4 images) More from MPR Somber town remembers one of six slain deer hunters (11/26/2004) Of crime and culture (11/25/2004) Who is Chai Vang? (11/24/2004) Self-defense a tough sell in Vang case, law experts say (11/24/2004) Man arrested for deer-stand shooting says he was fired on first; Hmong leaders condemn shooting (11/23/2004) Respond to this story Talk about this story in the MPR News Forum Submit a commentary Help us cover this story

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Wisconsin community says goodbye to three who were among six killed while hunting
by Stephanie Hemphill, Minnesota Public Radio
November 28, 2004

Two hearses leave St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Rice Lake, carrying Robert Crotteau and his son, Joseph. (MPR Photo/Stephanie Hemphill)

People in Rice Lake said farewell on Saturday to three hunters killed in a confrontation a week ago, over hunting land. The three were among six people killed and two wounded when they told a trespassing hunter to get off their land. The funerals were part of a long grieving process that has just begun.

Rice Lake, Wisc. — Rice Lake is dressed for the holidays. Main Street is festooned with lights. And a blanket of snow makes a classic scene of small town holiday cheer. But the town is in shock, and many people here are mourning.

	Balloons for Laski

Flags fly at half staff, and car antennas carry blaze-orange ribbons. They're to honor six people who were gunned down a week ago in a confrontation over a deer stand.

There have been funerals all weekend.

Mark Roidt was buried on Friday.

Saturday morning, family and friends gathered to say goodbye to Bob Crotteau and his son, Joe. Together they ran a cement business.

The church was so crowded, dozens of people had to stand, and others filed downstairs to listen to the mass in the parish hall. The walls were lined with photographs -- family groups, snowmobile trips, happy times at the lake. One enlarged portrait showed Joe leaning proudly on his crew cab pickup. He was 20 years old.

	Memorial for Joe Crotteau

Father David Oberts told the crowd he couldn't explain the men's deaths, not even with the help of the Bible. But he said through faith in God, people can go on. He compared the deaths of these two popular men to the death of Jesus. A horrific death, at a young age.

Dave Dushek knew Bob Crotteau in high school; they played football together.

"The biggest memory with Bob is just that smile he had on his face every time you saw him. Sometimes paths wouldn't cross for awhile, and then paths would cross, and you would see that smile, and 'how are you?', 'how's life treating you?' A man that a lot of people looked up to, a great pillar of our community," he said.

Dushek says the whole community will join to help the survivors - Bob Crotteau's wife, and another son and daughter.

	Decals and ribbons

"There's a very strong family here with the Crotteaus, the Drews, the Willers, every victim has a lot of support around them, and that is the key to this, I guess, to heal and move on, that there is a loving community that will support these people forever. And that's all we can do now," he said.

After the Crotteau funeral, it was time to bury their friend Allan Laski. People piled into cars and drove up the road a few miles to the village of Haugen. Someone had tied blaze-orange ribbons around all the telephone poles and stop signs in Haugen, and around the big pine trees on each side of the little church.

Again the church was packed. Allan Laski's son, Adam, and his friends played a song on trumpets and trombones.

Laski was manager of the United Building Centers store in Rice Lake. He left a wife and three children. His uncle, Frank Harycki, came from Milwaukee.

"The thought I had as I went to the cemetery was, when those balloons were released, they went right to the woods where Alan would want to be. He was an outdoorsman for all seasons, and the hunting I think was more of an excuse to get into the woods. It wasn't the hunting that drove him, as much as just the outdoors experience. Finally, I hope his spirit is enjoying all that outdoors, because I know that even on a day like today he would have enjoyed it," Harycki said.

Two more funerals are planned for Monday.

The man accused in the shootings, Chai Vang of St. Paul, is in the Sawyer County jail. The Wisconsin attorney general's office is expected to charge him Monday. Vang has hired a law firm from Milwaukee to defend him.

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