Public memorial planned for Wauconda boy who drowned in Bangs Lake
A public memorial will be held Wednesday night for a Wauconda boy who drowned over the weekend in Bangs Lake.
The gathering will honor Geraldo Rodriguez on what would have been his 10th birthday. It's scheduled for 7 p.m. on the Lake View Villa homeowners association beach, which is south of Bonner Road on the northeast side of the lake.
A balloon release is planned for about 7:30 p.m. to coincide with the time Geraldo was born, said his aunt, Angi Rodriguez.
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, Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper said.
Geraldo's family launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses.
Visitation will be from 4 until an 8 p.m. funeral service Friday at Kisselburg-Wauconda Funeral Home, 235 N. Main St., Wauconda. Additional services and interment will be held in Deltona, Florida. Geraldo lived in Florida until moving to Wauconda more than a year ago.