Family members embrace during a public memorial Wednesday for 9-year-old Geraldo Rodriguez, who died after falling off a paddleboat into the water last Friday at Lake View Villa Beach in Wauconda. Geraldo would have turned 10 on Wednesday.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
A public memorial was held Wednesday night for a Wauconda boy who drowned in Bangs Lake last weekend.
Family, friends and other mourners gathered on the Lake View Villa homeowners association beach to remember Geraldo Rodriguez on what would have been his 10th birthday.
Geraldo disappeared in the lake Friday night after falling off a paddleboat. Another boy who was with Geraldo and also fell off the boat was rescued by people fishing nearby.
Geraldo's body was recovered in the lake the next day. Preliminary autopsy results indicate he drowned.
Visitation will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Kisselburg-Wauconda Funeral Home, 235 N. Main St., Wauconda. A service will follow at the funeral home.
Additional services and interment will be held in Deltona, Florida. Geraldo lived in Florida until moving to Wauconda more than a year ago.
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Geraldo Rodriguez
Classmates huddle during a public memorial Wednesday for 9-year-old Geraldo Rodriguez, who died after falling off a paddleboat into the water last Friday at Lake View Villa Beach in Wauconda. Geraldo would have turned 10 on Wednesday.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
Hundreds of happy birthday balloons were released during a public memorial Wednesday for 9-year-old Geraldo Rodriguez, who died after falling off a paddleboat into the water last Friday at Lake View Villa Beach in Wauconda. Geraldo would have turned 10 on Wednesday.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com