Remembering the Gollnow family

CLINTONVILLE - Family members are telling their emotional story of a Shawano County couple killed in a fiery crash on a Kentucky freeway.
   
It's been less than a week since six people from the Pella area were killed in that accident.
    
James and Barbara Gollnow, along with their daughter Sereena died. Two foster children and a family friend were also killed. 

Friday, two of Barbara Gollnow's children spoke publicly about their parents.

“It's been, it's been very difficult,” said Lisa Taylor, Barbara Gollnow’s daughter.

Lisa Taylor fought back the tears as she remembered her mom and stepfather Barb and Jim Gollnow.

“They had a wonderful life, they really did,” said Taylor.

The Gollnows, their adopted daughter Sereena, two foster children and a family friend were killed last weekend. The group was returning from a week in Florida. Lisa lives in Tennessee and talked to her mom the day before the crash.

“It was one of our normal ones, nothing, just, I was kind of sad that they weren't coming back through to the house, but I understand you know, the time thing, getting everybody back to school,” said Taylor. “I wish we could have talked about other things, but I just didn't know. “

Taylor's brother Chris Young flew in from Vermont. Young remembers Jim Gollnow as a practical joker. He says he was close to his mom, but over time, time together may have been lost.

“I kick myself in the butt a lot because it doesn't take nothing, but to pick up the phone and call,” said Chris Young, Barbara Gollonow’s son.

Family and friends gathered Friday afternoon in Clintonville in preparation for a memorial service on Saturday morning.

Hugs and tears were soon replaced with stories of a couple who loved their family.

“We are going to celebrate their lives. We're not going to, we're going to cry. We're going to cry a lot. But we're going to celebrate their lives because that's what they want,” said Taylor.

The memorial service for the Gollnows is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. at Marion Elementary School.