Missing memorial angers family

TOWN OF HARRISON - A family is heartbroken after they say a memorial honoring a family member killed in a car crash is stolen.

Justin Sprangers and a friend died in a rollover accident in 2009.

Sprangers' aunt says a memorial was placed near the scene last November.

But she says just a few weeks later it was gone.

A three-foot tall steel memorial reminded the family of Justin Sprangers of one of his favorite hobbies.

"He loved his car he would just go all over Wisconsin and take road trips together," said Sprangers' aunt, Skeeter Abrahamson.

Last November Sprangers' mother placed this wreath next to the memorial. Abrahamson thinks the memorial was put there by the Wisconsin Z-Crew. A group of car enthusiasts Sprangers was a part of.

"To have a memorial marker put up in his honor, in his name, it was obviously a tribute to Justin letting him know he was missed."

Sprangers was killed when the car he was riding in crashed near a park and ride in Calumet County in 2009. Alcohol was a factor in the crash.

"It's an unfortunate thing that he was in the car, I wish he would have driven himself or I wish for a lot of things but you can't go back to that moment and bring it back."

The wreath and memorial were placed about where the car came to rest just in front of these trees. Abrahamson says the family believes they were only there for a few weeks before they were stolen.

"For her to see it, it was just awesome and then to have it stolen, it was like another piece of Justin was taken."

The DOT discourages people from placing roadside memorials, but does not remove them unless they are a hazard. Both DOT and Calumet County officials say they did not remove the memorials for Sprangers.

"It meant the world to her that her son was being thought of."

Abrahamson says the family just wants to see the memorial returned, no questions asked.