One of the victims in the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack that killed a mother-of-3 is now donating her organs.
Jane Kulich (52), was handing out candy in Waukesha to children on Sunday night when suspect Darrell Brooks (39) drove his car through the parade, killing her along with five other people.
Shawn Kulich was Kulich’s sister-in law. She said Kulich died “doing what she loved”. In addition to her husband and their three children and three grandchildren, she also leaves behind her father.
Some of her organs are now being donated to the other 62 survivors of injury who were also injured during the parade.
Jane Kulich, 52, was one of the six victims killed during the Waukesha Christmas parade attack while she was passing out candy to children
Kulich’s family will donate some of Kulich’s organs to the survivors of the attack.
Kulich, John Kulich’s husband said Kulich was a beautiful person and loved by everyone.
Shawn Kulich, a PEOPLE contributor on Tuesday, spoke out about the tragedy and her sister in law’s organ donation.
In a text message, she wrote that God works in mysterious ways. This news thrilled my brother and his family.
“Some tears have been made from this tragedy into tears of joy !!!! Jane must be smiling because of this.
She continued to call her sister-in-law, a fun loving and caring woman of the family, an ‘amazing’ person.
“She was simply an incredible mother. Kulich shared his amazing mother and grandmother with PEOPLE.
“One thing my brother stated earlier today was that he couldn’t get over the number of phone calls, texts, and people calling him. He didn’t know how many people loved Jane.
Kulich stated that Kulich’s sister-in law was not hateful and wouldn’t react negatively to such terrible events.
Kenosha residents placed a street memorial to pay respects for the victims of Sunday’s tragedy.
Kulich said, “Jane’s heart was an open heart.” Kulich stated, “She wanted everyone in hospital to be completely and well. This includes their families.”
“I know she’d hurt for all of us right now. However, I know she would want everyone to see that it was an terrible, horrible tragedy. She wouldn’t want anyone to be hateful or to cause harm to each other.
Jane’s husband John Kulich also spoke out about her death who described as the family’s ‘rock’ that held them together.
Kulich stated to CBS that Kulich considered her a “beautiful person”, not only for herself but for everyone she knew.
“I have never heard one negative word about her.” Everybody who knew her loved her.
“Her entire world was her family. It was something she excelled at, and it made her a very good mother. Kulich described her as the “rock that held us together,” the steady force.
Since Tuesday’s creation, the Kulich family’s GoFundMe page has raised almost $16,500 towards its $20,000 target.
The moment Darrell Brooks (39), drove through the Christmas Parade, killing six people and injuring 62, was captured on horrifying video.
After the incident, police officers can be seen traversing the debris left behind by the crowd.
As Monday was an investigation day into the accident, streets were closed along the parade route.
Darrell Brooks (39) was the driver suspected in the attack. His red SUV had been driven in the middle the parade.
On Sunday, the Christmas Parade began at 4pm. Participants started at Main St. and Whiterock Ave. The parade was intended to last only half a mile and end at Cutler Park’s northeast corner. The red SUV speeds down Main Street at 4.39pm. The SUV crashed into people and caused bodies to fly, then continued down the Main Street towards the end, breaking through the barriers. It was discovered less than five blocks away. The driver was then taken into custody.
Organs donated will be given to the survivors of the parade accident, which left 62 victims.
Jessalyn, 11 years old, was injured performing as part of Waukesha Xtreme Dance at the parade.
Torres had been left fighting for her life with a lost kidney, broken pelvis and lacerations to her lungs and remaining kidney.
She had asked her doctors Tuesday morning to “glue” her together as she battles on.
Ryan Kohnke was her uncle and he said that he felt devastated after seeing the tragedy.
‘It’s just senseless violence,’ Kohnke told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. ‘The horrific scene that followed and the trauma that it’s going to have on this community, it’s unfortunate.’
His sister Jess, and his mother Amber have set up a GoFundMe account to help them pay their medical bills.
Kenzie Hollingsworth from fourth grade was one of those children who were also hurt in the collision. Her injuries included a cracked skull and bleeding from the brain, as well as a broken leg.
Katharine Krzysik, a GoFundMe user, wrote that Miss Kenzie will have a long road of recovery but she’s a resilient little angel.
GoFundMe pages have been set up for victims of other crimes and to provide financial support for their families.
One family has exceeded the $50,000 target they set for themselves, which Osvaldo Perez had organized in memory of Romelia and his little sister Camila.
Camila suffered from fractures in her leg and head, while Romelia was suffering internal bleeding as well as fractures in her pelvis, spine and wrist.
Tamara Rosentreter, a survivor of Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, was also contacted via Facebook. On Sunday, the members of Tree of the Group were murdered.
Rosentreter stated that she has broken bones, and was treated with stitches. She is thankful to still be alive.
Jessalyn Turres, a Waukesha-Xtreme Dancing group member, was marching in the parade on Sunday when she was hit by an SUV.
Fourth-grader Kenzie Hallingsworth sustained a cracked skull and bleeding in her brain.
Tamara Rosentreter (left), was one of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies’ survivors. While the mother of four is making strides towards recovery, her family says she would miss at least six to eight months because of multiple injuries.
She wrote, “My heart breaks for my teammates and their families,” on Facebook.
Amber Knutson, Rosentreter’s child, had set a $45,000 goal for the page. The page has raised nearly $20,000 to date.
Knutson stated that she has to make a full recovery before she is able to get on her feet again. “She’s very fortunate to be alive today.”
Following the Sunday attack, six victims died.
Jackson Sparks, eight years old, was the youngest victim. He had been participating in the parade along with his baseball team when the attack occurred.
Sparks, previously described as a sweet, talented boy, died Tuesday after succumbing to his injuries.
He was able to raise funds through GoFundMe, stating that he had received brain surgery the day before the attack.
Tucker, Tucker’s brother, also was hit and fractured his skull. However, he is expected to fully recover.
The family of the deceased has requested privacy to let them heal.
Jackson was a talented and sweet boy, who was also a pleasure to coach. In a statement, Jeff Rogers, President of the Waukesha Blazers baseball/fastpitch softball club, said that Jackson was an excellent utility player who played on the Blazers Wolfpack teams.
He was the “little guy” on the team, that everyone loved. You couldn’t help but love him,’ Rogers said.
In the attack, three Milwaukee Dancing Grannies members were also injured.
The three women were identified as Tamara Durand (52), Virginia Sorenson (79), and LeAnna Owen (71).
The Dancing Grannies wrote on Facebook that the tragedy caused by the Waukesha Christmas parade was devastating for the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies.
Durand posted her last Facebook status just hours prior to Sunday’s tragic events. It showed her smiling, holding her pompoms, and wearing a winter coat with hat.
“HERE WE GIVE!” Durand wrote the following, with a few Santa Claus Emojis. The ‘First Milwaukee Dancing Grannies parade So excited!’
Durand was the first to perform with Milwaukee Dancing Grannies.
‘She was super energetic, she was that type of person who when she walks in the room, everybody notices her smile,’ her husband, Dave, told The Daily Beast on Monday.
Both Tucker (11 years) and Jackson Sparks (8 years), were both also killed in the accident. Jackson, who had just two days earlier undergone brain surgery (with Tucker recovering from road rash) and had suffered a skull fracture, died Tuesday.
Wilhelm Hospel, 82, was the husband of one of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies marching the parade who died after suffering from internal bleeding and injuries to his pelvis
She danced her whole life. She was one of the youngest members of the Dancing Grannies. Dancing was her favourite thing. This was her first experience with them. That’s what makes it so sad.
Tamara worked as Waukesha Memorial’s hospice and critical-care chaplain. A homeless man was saved from the Wisconsin River by Tamara in 2009.
Wilhelm Hospel (82), the husband of one Granny, was also murdered.
Hospel, his wife being a parade participant, was participating in the Parade according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Theodore Hospel told The New York Post his brother Hospel that while on a Florida golf course, he saw that his younger brother was being struck by an SUV driver out of control.
Wilhelm, the youngest of five siblings, was killed by internal bleeding and pelvic injuries, according to Theodore.
“I spoke to him this summer and he asked, “Who do you think will be the first to leave?” Theodore replied.
“And lo, behold, it is the youngest who goes first.”
Theodore said to the Post that he visited his brother, Lola and their wife in Wisconsin every now and then. Wilhelm would ‘always repair things’ at a rental house he owned, he said.
Theodore stated that although his job wasn’t done, he was still so fit.
He was not taking any medication. His strength was evident and he would even help me out of my own misery. It is amazing.
“It is so tragic.”
Brooks was taken into custody by Waukesha’s Police Department following the attack. He was charged with five counts of murder.
Brooks was arrested after he drove his SUV through the crowd. According to police, Brooks was found in his Ford SUV neatly parked on a driveway just five blocks away from the area where he had driven through groups of elderly dancers and children.
Brooks fled a domestic dispute according to police. They ruled out terrorist motives.
Online footage showed Brooks speeding through crowds with his dancing grannies, just seconds before the horrified pedestrians tried to escape.
Brooks is a wannabe rapper with a lengthy criminal record dating back to 1999. Brooks was arrested for possession of drugs and strangulation, as well as battery and illegally possessing firearms.
Brooks was arrested by the Waukesha Police department and faced five murder charges.