GRANDVIEW, Mo. — People in Grandview and in South Johnson County, Ks. are calling it a tragedy.
Fifth-grade student Luke Bresette and his family were traveling back to the metro from a spring break trip to Florida. Luke was killed and two other family members injured when an information board fell on them at the Birmingham, Alabama airport.
The Bresettes reside in Stilwell, Kan., and make the 20 minute drive to Grandview for church services and school.
“Pilars of the community,” is how one friend of the Bresette family describes Ryan and Heather Bresette and their five children. The mother of five underwent surgery last night in Alabama, as she recovers from two broken ankles and a fractured pelvis. Her 10-year-old son Luke wasn’t as fortunate, and that’s what leaves the Bresette’s loved ones in such disbelief.
One look at Julie Lobb’s face tells a story of sorrow. She’s been friends with the Bresette family for decades, and was Luke’s fourth-grade teacher at St. Thomas More School last year. She heard about the accident that killed the 10-year old boy on Friday night, and she still can’t believe it.
“Luke was just a great kid with a smile on his face all the time,” Lobb said. “If he was in trouble, he’d look at you with his big blue eyes. It was just impossible to stay mad at him.”
It’s a somber mood everywhere around the Saint Thomas More campus near Grandview. The Bresettes are being described as being active in the church, and frequent volunteers who are cheerful to help where they’re needed. Father Don Farnan describes the Bresettes as being ‘the salt of the earth,’ and Luke as being ‘adventurous’ and ‘smart.’
“He’s a kid who comes from a family who is very well-rooted and service-oriented,” Fr. Farnan said. “You’d see him here involved in everything from the boy scouts to the basketball team.”
Father Don has spoken with Luke’s father, Ryan, twice since Friday’s accident. The family’s pastor points to the New Testament as a source of strength for a family in crisis.
“In one of the stations of the cross, Simon of Cyrene helps to carry the cross of Jesus,” Fr. Farnan said. “That’s what we’re trying to do for each other — to just remind them that they’re not alone.”
WBRC-TV in Birmingham says it took seven men to lift that sign, which is said to have weighed as much as 400 pounds.
Spring break is ending, and school will be back in session at Saint Thomas More on Monday. Teachers aren’t certain yet as to how students will react to seeing their classmate missing.
As of now, funeral plans for Luke Bresette are unknown.
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