Community rallies around four children orphaned after parents die suddenly

Craig and Stephanie Pearson died within a year and a half of each other

Craig and Stephanie Pearson died within a year and a half of each other

CAROLINE: CRAIG AND STEPHANIE PEARSON WERE BELOVED IN THE SLINGER COMMUNITY. AND GREAT FRIENDS OF SCOTT STORTZ, THE VILLAGE PRESIDENT. >> THEY WERE PHENOMENAL PARENTS, NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS. CAROLINE: SO WHEN THEY BOTH DIED A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR APART FROM EACH OTHER, BOTH FROM SUDDEN CARDIAC EPISODES, IT WAS A DEVASTATING LOSS. STEPHANIE IN OCTOBER OF 2019. CRAIG APRIL 29 THE DAY BEFORE HIS 41ST BIRTHDAY, AND THE DAY BEFORE HE WAS SET TO CLOSE ON A NEW HOME WITH THEIR KIDS >> IT’S NOT TOO OFTEN YOU SEE ENTIRE FAMILY'S LIFE SHAKEN TO THE CORE SO RAPIDLY. CAROLINE: CRAIG’S SISTER WHO MOVED IN TEMPORARILY TO HELP HIM WITH THE KIDS, IS NOW TAKING ON FULL GUARDIANSHIP. ANDREW, IN THIRD GRADE, CADENCE IN THE FIFTH GRADE, PROCLAIM IN THE EIGHTH GRADE, AND ADELINE A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL. >> KIDS ARE MUCH MORE RESILIENT, THEY'VE DEFINITELY OVER THE LAST WEEK, LET ALONE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, BUT LAST WEEK HAD THEIR MOMENTS. BUT THEY STILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF SMILING AND LAUGHING. WE ARE TRYING SO HARD TO KEEP THINGS POSITIVE AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE SAFE AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE FINE. CAROLINE: SPORTS AT THE SLINGER SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS HOW THE PEARSONS GOT SO INVOLVED IN THEIR COMMUNITY, WHICH IN TURN HAS NOW RALLIED AROUND THEIR FAMILY. A GOFUNDME ACCOUNT HAS ALREADY GARNERED MORE THAN $10,000. AND A FUND HAS BEEN SETUP IN THEIR NAME AT CHASE BANK. STORTZ, A FATHER HIMSELF, IS ASKING FOR ANY DONATIONS TO HELP GET THE KIDS THROUGH THE NEXT 10 YEARS. >> I DON'T CARE IF IT’S A DO

Community rallies around four children orphaned after parents die suddenly

Craig and Stephanie Pearson died within a year and a half of each other

Four Wisconsin kids became orphans after their parents both died suddenly from cardiac episodes, about a year and a half apart from each other. Craig, 40, and Stephanie Pearson, 38, were both beloved members of their community and very involved in their kids' lives. "They were phenomenal parents, phenomenal neighbors and phenomenal friends," said Scott Stortz, Slinger village president and personal friend of the Pearsons. "Very involved in the community. They coached teams, they sat on boards for the soccer club, the basketball club and they were always involved in everything."Stephanie died in October 2019. Tuesday would have been her 40th birthday. For 18 months, Craig took care of their kids. He had help from his sister, Lydia Pearson, who temporarily moved into his home for support after Stephanie died. Then, Craig died on April 29, 2021. He died the day before his 41st birthday, which would have also been the day he closed on a new house for their kids. Lydia is now in the process of taking over as the kids' legal guardian. Their brother is helping secure the new house with his own personal finances. Stortz said the community is now rallying around them. "We've got to put a plan in place to financially support these children over the next decade," Stortz said. A GoFundMe account has already garnered more than $16,000 in donations. People can also donate via Venmo, @PearsonFamilyKids, the last four digits of the phone number are #2293. Stortz said they will need as much money as anyone will donate, to support all four kids through the next 10 years. "I don't care if it's a dollar, it's going to be well spent and well invested and well saved for these kids," Stortz said.

SLINGER, Wis. —

Four Wisconsin kids became orphans after their parents both died suddenly from cardiac episodes, about a year and a half apart from each other.

Craig, 40, and Stephanie Pearson, 38, were both beloved members of their community and very involved in their kids' lives.

"They were phenomenal parents, phenomenal neighbors and phenomenal friends," said Scott Stortz, Slinger village president and personal friend of the Pearsons. "Very involved in the community. They coached teams, they sat on boards for the soccer club, the basketball club and they were always involved in everything."

Stephanie died in October 2019. Tuesday would have been her 40th birthday.

For 18 months, Craig took care of their kids. He had help from his sister, Lydia Pearson, who temporarily moved into his home for support after Stephanie died.

Then, Craig died on April 29, 2021. He died the day before his 41st birthday, which would have also been the day he closed on a new house for their kids.

Lydia is now in the process of taking over as the kids' legal guardian. Their brother is helping secure the new house with his own personal finances.

Stortz said the community is now rallying around them.

"We've got to put a plan in place to financially support these children over the next decade," Stortz said.

A GoFundMe account has already garnered more than $16,000 in donations.

People can also donate via Venmo, @PearsonFamilyKids, the last four digits of the phone number are #2293.

Stortz said they will need as much money as anyone will donate, to support all four kids through the next 10 years.

"I don't care if it's a dollar, it's going to be well spent and well invested and well saved for these kids," Stortz said.

Community rallies around four children orphaned after parents die suddenly

Craig and Stephanie Pearson died within a year and a half of each other

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