Death of Vesper Girl Mourned

March 28, 1995

Marshfield News Herald

By KURT RENTMEESTER

Of the News-Herald

VESPER – Fluorescent pink ribbons and a memorial fund remind residents here the hit and run tragic death of an 11-year-old local girl won’t be in vain.

But for now, more local residents may be looking at every closed garage door and every four-door mid-size car that drives past, wondering if it might be the one.

The “one” is the reddish to burgundy colored Chevrolet Celebrity or Oldsmobile Cutlass type vehicle that struck Deidre Week, 6913 County Trunk HH, from behind at dusk Friday evening as the girl bicycled within three blocks of her residence.

The girl died of head trauma after she was thrown from her bicycle into the ditch.

“It’s almost to the point – it could be vigilante justice. It would be unfortunate if this person (the driver) didn’t come forward,” said Ron Vruwink, who with his brother Jim, set up the Friends of Deidre Week Fund at First National Bank, Vesper.

Even someone who strikes a dog usually comes forward, he said. This person didn’t even do that.

Mary Jepsen, 5321 Grant Road, said her children won’t be bicycling on the road for at least a few weeks.

“It’s really sad,” Jepsen said, noting the children attending classes with the Vesper Elementary School fifth grader probably have been hit the hardest.

“You can’t believe someone would do this, be they wrong or right,” Jepsen said. “I wouldn’t think they would have thought through this by now.”

“I think everyone is subconsciously looking over their shoulder,” said Dennis Diedrich, the Vesper Fire Department chief who was at the scene shortly after sheriff’s deputies were alerted at 6:44 p.m. Friday.

Because County Trunk HH is mainly used by local residents, he agrees with Sheriff Brian Illingworth that there’s a good possibility the guilty party is local.

But Vesper Village President Eugene Diercks noted that it's just as possible they may have headed off on Highway 10 to another area.

“You can see where its sometimes possible to leave, but to leave them (the victim) laying there and run off and hide – I certainly couldn’t respect them,” Diercks said.

Vruwink praised the Wood County Sheriff’s Department for its work on the case. The night of the accident, he noticed three squad cars traveling between his Rudolph residence and his brother’s home in Arpin.

The Sheriff’s Department continues to do traffic stops and has acted on some tips.

In the meantime, Illingworth has no new leads on the case – but he’s getting a lot of phone calls from residents.

“What’s surprising to me is the number of people calling in with specifics,” Illingworth said. “It's kind of surprising people aren’t letting personal ties get in the way.”

Anyone with any information on the case is urged to call the Wood County Sheriff’s Department at 421-8700.

The fund may be used either to assist the Sheriff’s Department or the parents of Deidre, Brenda and Dave Week and their family.

Hopefully, the money being deposited by residents for the girl's fund will be used as a reward to the person who helps apprehend the suspect, he said.

About $600 has been collected in the account, according to Mary DeWerff, teller supervisor at the bank. The account is in Illingworth’s name in care of the Sheriff’s Department.

Contributions can be made to First National Bank, 229 E. Cameron Ave., Vesper, 54429.

A memorial fund has also been established at Associated Bank in Marshfield.

Besides donations, residents started a pink ribbon campaign in honor of the girl.

Terry Adams, 102 Maple St., whose children attend Vesper Elementary School, said she got the idea after hearing a pink ribbon had been placed on Saturday at the spot where the fifth grader’s bicycle entered the ditch.

A yellow ribbon, along with fresh flowers, were added Sunday.

On Monday Hammill Forest Products donated fluorescent plastic ribbons at the school. Teachers each got a roll and each student received three to four feet.

“So, everyone was given ribbons in pink to show support for Deidre and her family – we’re just hoping the person who did this will have the conscious to come forward,” Adams said.

No one seems to know who placed the first pink and yellow ribbons at the accident scene. And, although the memorial flowers are now covered in snow, no one is forgetting the unnecessary death it symbolizes.