(This story was updated to add new information.)
MANITOWOC – A GoFundMe page created to pay for the funeral expenses of a young farm worker who died in an accident about two weeks ago has almost reached its goal.
As of 10 a.m. July 8, donors gave $9,500 — 95% — of the family’s request for $10,000, updated from $9,000. A cousin of the worker said they plan to send his body back to his family in Mexico.
The GoFundMe page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/leobardo-misael-valdez-magana.
Leobardo Misael Valdez Magaña died June 24 on a farm property in the 11000 block of County F in the town of Meeme.
According to Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office, crews were dismantling several silos on the property as part of a scheduled project. One of the silos fell in an unintended direction, hitting a nearby building on the farm.
Valdez Magaña was inside the building and was trapped under debris. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“We are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of my brother-in-law Leo, or as many knew him, ‘Mixa,’ who sadly passed away recently in an unexpected and tragic way,” Zonia Valdez wrote on the GoFundMe page. “He was a very hardworking man who came to the United States at the age of 16 with the hope of a better future for his parents. Since then, he worked hard every single day to support his family and move forward in life.”
She wrote that his parents and family were waiting in Mexico to say goodbye.
“His passing has left us with immense pain and unexpected expenses,” Valdez said. “We are asking for the support of family, friends and anyone with a kind heart who can help, whether through a donation or by sharing this campaign. Any help, no matter how small, will be a blessing in this difficult time.”
Contact reporter Patti Zarling at pzarling@gannett.com or call 920-606-2575. Follow her on X @PGPattiZarling, on Instagram @PGPatti and on Bluesky @PGPatti.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: GoFundMe for young farm worker who died when a silo collapsed has almost reached its goal
Reporting by Patti Zarling, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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