Fairdale: one year later
The town of Fairdale marks the one-year anniversary of the deadly tornado that tore apart the town with a community brunch, groundbreaking for a new home, guest speaker Gov. Rauner, distribution of gifts and a kite fly.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comFamily and friends of Geri Schulz and Jackie Klosa gather around the memorial bench Saturday during the one year anniversary of the EF-4 tornado that demolished Fairdale and killed the two women who were friends. Clem Schultz stands on left while hugged by loved ones.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comTyler Rowan, grandson of the late Geri Schultz, is comforted by his uncle and Geri's oldest son, Jim Poden, of Battlecreek Michigan, during the park bench dedication to Schultz Saturday in Fairdale.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comDeena Schell of Fairdale smiles after she and Gov. Bruce Rauner, right, break ground on her new Habitat for Humanity home in Fairdale Saturday. 'Fairdale: Year of New Beginnings' memorial and anniversary event of the one year anniversary of the EF-4 tornado that demolished the town.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comDeena Schell of Fairdale gets a hug from her Habitat for Humanity case manager Patti McAdams while they and Pastor Paul DeHaven of DeKalb speak before the groundbreaking of her new home.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comLeft to right: Calli Schell, 12, her mother Deena Schell of Fairdale, case manager Patti McAdams of Habitat for Humanity and Schell's oldest daughter, Haleigh, 14, read along and say aloud bible scripture during the groundbreaking of Schell's new home in Fairdale Saturday. The home is being built by Habitat for Humanity.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comA boy flies his kit down Main Street in Fairdale after the one year anniversary of the EF-4 tornado that demolished the town.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comDeena Schell of Fairdale, third from right, stands with her daughters Haleigh, 14, and Calli, 12, and her Habitat for Humanity case manager Patti McAdams (green coat) at the groundbreaking for her new home in Fairdale Saturday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comKirkland fire department members listen to speakers at the 'Fairdale: Year of New Beginnings' memorial and anniversary event of the one year anniversary of the EF-4 tornado that demolished the town Saturday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comYvette Dewispelaere hugs her son, Mike, after they laid yellow flowers on the remnants of Yvette's mother Jackie Klosa's house in Fairdale, where Klosa lost her life in the EF-4 tornado that demolished the town one year ago. The family gathered at the homestead before the day's anniversary events Saturday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comFamily of the late Jackie Klosa of Fairdale left yellow roses on all that remains of her home, a small concrete slab. Klosa lost her life in the EF-4 tornado that destroyed the small town one year ago.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comFamily and friends leave roses on the park bench memorializing Geri Schultz and Jackie Klosa who lost their lives in the EF-4 tornado that destroyed the town of Fairdale one year ago. The town hosted a memorial and dedication on Saturday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comFamily members of Jackie Klosa lay yellow flowers on the remnants of Klosa's house in Fairdale, where Klosa lost her life in the EF-4 tornado that demolished the town one year ago. The family gathered at the homestead before the day's anniversary events Saturday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comPeople start to gather at Fairdale Park for the day's events Saturday on the one year anniversary of the tornado.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comFamily and friends trace the names engraved on a park bench memorializing Geri Schultz and Jackie Klosa who lost their lives in the EF-4 tornado that destroyed the town of Fairdale one year ago. The town hosted a memorial and dedication on Saturday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comClem Schultz sits on the park bench dedicated to his wife, Geri, and their friend and neighbor Jackie Klosa, who lost their lives in the Fairdale tornado last year.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comFamily and friends left roses on the park bench memorializing Geri Schultz and Jackie Klosa who lost their lives in the EF-4 tornado that destroyed the town of Fairdale one year ago. The town hosted a memorial and dedication on Saturday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comJay Watson of Fairdale, 19, talks about how he survived the Fairdale tornado one year ago by riding it out in a bathtub. He ended up in a field across the street from his home.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comA couple embraces as they listen to speakers during the Fairdale memorial and anniversary events Saturday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comFamily, friends and residents of Fairdale gather on the land owned by Deena Schell for the groundbreaking ceremony of her new Habitat for Humanity home Saturday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comPeople make their way to a statue of the Virgin Mary placed in a tree on Clem Schultz's property in Fairdale as others listen to speeches during the one year anniversary events Saturday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comIllinois Gov. Bruce Rauner speaks at the 'Fairdale: Year of New Beginnings' memorial and anniversary event of the one year anniversary of the EF-4 tornado that demolished the town Saturday.
Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.comIllinois Gov. Bruce Rauner lists to Deena Schell, second from right, gives a speech at the groundbreaking for her Habitat for Humanity home in Fairdale Saturday. She is flanked by daughters, Haleigh, 14, on left, and Calli, 12, on right.
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