“He was much more than somebody who just died in a car crash at the hands of a drunk driver,” says Susie Fudally, who is mourning the loss of her brother following a fatal crash in Appleton.
26-year-old Casey Sjoberg died in an Oct. 4 car crash at the intersection of North Richmond Street and the Interstate 41 northbound off-ramp. Fudally confirmed her brother’s identity to The Appleton Post-Crescent on Oct. 8.
Fudally says the crash happened around 1:30 a.m. on that day and that her father was asked by police to identify Sjoberg in the hospital a little after 5 a.m.
Fudally described her brother as a gentle soul, saying that he was quiet, but that if he loved you, you knew it.
“Casey was so loved and he’s gonna be missed immensly. My dad sits here waiting for him to come home everyday,” Fudally told the Post-Crescent. “Just listening for that loud car he loves so much to pull in, and we’re never gonna get to hear that again.”
Sjoberg was also an avid car enthusiast, as Fudally said driving his car was his favorite thing to do. On Oct. 7, over 100 people gathered in Appleton Memorial Park to celebrate his life. Fudally says many of the people who showed up had known Sjoberg through their shared interests in cars.
“That was a part of Casey’s world. As his family, we weren’t a part of (that) because that was his thing,” she said. “So it was just really cool to be there and to see how many people came out for him. A lot that knew him and a lot that didn’t even know him but were sympathizing and just there to support.”
An 18-year-old Larsen man was arrested following the crash, with police referring charges of first-degree reckless homicide and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing injury. The Appleton Post-Crescent does not identify suspects until they are formally charged.
Fudally hopes people understand the dangers of drunk driving and avoid the mistakes that the suspect is being accused of.
“I hope people can see his mistakes and not want to repeat that. Not wanting to be driving around like that and taking the life of somebody by accident,” Fudally says. “I can’t imagine living with that guilt.”
Is there a GoFundMe for the victim?
Sjoberg’s family has created a GoFundMe to help with his funeral expenses. The family is seeking the community’s help in raising $6,000 in donations.
Fudally also confirmed to the Post-Crescent that another memorial will be held in her brother’s honor at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 at Memorial Park.
Rashad Alexander can be contacted at ralexander@gannett.com and 920-431-8214.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: 26-year-old who died in Appleton crash was car enthusiast, more than 100 show up to memorial
Reporting by Rashad Alexander, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
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