Memorial honors Hwy. 41 crash victims

APPLETON - With choking emotion and silent tears, friends and family remembered the good times. The times, Arielle Lewandowski, Paige Riley-Berg and Sam Goudy were still with them.

Police say the three died when 53-year-old Stephen slammed into their car early Friday. Officers say Siebert was drunk and driving the wrong way on highway 41 in Ashwaubenon. He also died in the crash.

"Free-spirited, they liked to live life as if it was the last day, they lived it to the fullest regardless of what other people thought," friend Eric Meixl said.

Meixl never thought the last day would come so soon, but says in their time here 17-year-old Arielle, 20-year-old Paige and 19-year-old Sam made an impact.

Friends say Arielle had a sense of humor that lit up the room. Sam was sweet and kind, always smiling and Paige was adventurous, an activist for those struggling with their sexual identity.

"I admired Paige for everything she did, she was my roommate for six months, she was my best friend and I know I'm going to miss her," friend Alysha Riehl said. "I just admired her will."

Friends held a memorial Monday at harmony café. Riehl says it was a special spot for the three.

"We used to drink a lot of coffee and play a lot of cards, I mean she was a great person, she was very lively, always energetic," friend Maggie Wickham said of Lewandowski.

All night the mike stayed open, for friends to share stories or give their final goodbye. Paige's girlfriend could not make the gathering, but shared her thoughts in a letter, read by a friend.

"I know that we were meant to be and all those dreams will always be completed in my heart," she wrote.

Those who didn't speak, left notes. The photo's and messages will be going to the crash victim's families.

Donations for a memorial bench were also collected. Friends want to place the bench in Menasha's Jefferson Park to honor the three and raise awareness about the perils of drunken driving.

"They had so much to live for and so much going for them that you know it could have been something great and they lost their lives to someone being careless," Wickham said.

But, while their time was short, friends say they won't be forgotten. Toxicology reports on the four victims are expected to be released later this week.

A memorial fund for the three young people has been established at Kim Central Credit Union. Separate funerals or memorial services for the three will be Tuesday evening.