Published Wednesday, December 11, 2002
to remember children
at Livestock Auction
Herald Staff Writer
"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take," Pymatuning Township farmer Norman Morrison recited, his voice cracking with emotion. Morrison spoke the prayer Tuesday morning at a memorial service for five area Amish children who died in a fire Dec. 3.
The 20-minute service at the Mercer Livestock Auction was sponsored by auction employees and the Loomis family of Mercer, who employ the children's father Rudy Wengerd, as their barn manager. Wengerd, 37, and his wife Lizzie, 36, lost five of their nine children and their Pulaski Township home in a fire that was sparked by the coal- and wood-burning furnace.
"I found out last week how fragile life is," Bill Passek, the general manager of the livestock auction, said of his co-worker's loss. "Your world can turn upside down so quick." The Wengerds' lost daughter Katie, 14; and four sons -- Levi, 12; Neal, 11; John, 4; and Jonathan, who had just turned 2.
Rudy's brother, Neal, who also works at the livestock auction, described how firefighters found Katie's body holding her 2-year-old brother in her left arm. He had Passek read a letter he'd written on his brother's behalf, thanking everyone for their donations and prayers of support.
"Also a very special thanks to all the firemen who helped in any way the night of the fire ... some worked all night ... a mere thanks don't seem enough ... let's support our volunteer firemen ... we don't realize what they are until we need them," Passek read.
The letter also contained the names and ages of the four children who survived: Anna, 16; 15-year-old Gideon, who broke his leg when he jumped out of a second-story bedroom window; Donnie, 9; and 6-year-old Emma.
Before the service, Andy "Skinny" Byler, who works at the auction and is a childhood friend of Wengerd, said that although the Amish community usually sticks to itself and takes care of its own, outside help was accepted because of the enormity of the tragedy. The Amish refer to their non-Amish neighbors as the "English."
"As far as the 'English' helping, it's a good thing. We don't even know how to say it in words," Byler said. "With something like this, we wouldn't discourage it. I'm not really surprised by it though, because we have a good community. I think it's something we need to do together."
But the media scrutiny since last week's blaze is a different story, according to the Old Order Amish man. "We are very unhappy with what kind of questions have been asked -- personal questions, and pictures being taken. We appreciate the support, but it would make them feel better if the media would leave them alone because they're not used to it," Byler said.
Tuesday's memorial service is not the end of the Loomis family's help.
At 7 p.m. Friday, the Loomises will sponsor an auction to raise funds for the Wengerds. The Loomises are still taking donations for the auction, to be held in the Hermitage Fire Station on Highland Road.
Rod Loomis, who also owns Reynolds-based Loomco International, also made it clear that Wengerd will always have a job with the livestock auction. "If it takes seven days, seven weeks, seven months or seven years, whatever amount of time he needs to take -- yes, he is coming back."
To make a donation, call Linda Stewart Savage at (724) 646-2550.