Bloomingdale man killed in Wis. snowmobile crash

A private funeral was held Sunday night for a former Bloomingdale man who died in a snowmobiling accident Saturday, according to the Vilas County Sheriff's Department in Eagle River, Wisconsin.

Dustin E. Thomas, 27, was killed after the snowmobile he was driving crashed into a tree at about 1:45 p.m. in Boulder Junction, police said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by both the sheriff and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Neither DNR officials nor the Vilas County Coroner could be reached for comment Sunday.

Family friend Cari Kovar, of Villa Park, said Thomas was newly married and moved to Ontario, Wis. a few months ago. Kovar said Thomas made an impact on young people at New Hope Community Church in Villa Park, where he volunteered with the youth group. The students loved him, she said.

"He was such a great kid and loved his music," Kovar said. "He had such a great sense of humor and played the guitar with his whole heart."

This is first snowmobile fatality this season in Vilas County, but a sheriff's department official said crashes, injuries and deaths are not an uncommon in the Eagle River area. The town is about 6 1/2 hours north of Chicago.

A private funeral was held Sunday night in Ontario, Wis. Kovar said a memorial service is planned for Saturday, Feb. 12 at New Hope Community Church. Details on that service are pending.

Thomas leaves behind his mother and three siblings. Thomas' older brother Jason Thomas is in the Army National Guard.

Kovar said Thomas' mother, Jamie Thomas, is doing the best she can right now.

"Jamie has a long road ahead," Kovar said. "But Dustin was so full of faith and lived such a good Christian life, we know is home with his maker."