Stoughton Family Defies Odds, Struck Twice By Two Tornadoes
Pastor Dale Morgan
Stoughton Family Defies Odds, Struck Twice By Two Tornadoes*
UPDATED: 7:31 am CDT June 18, 2007
STOUGHTON, Wis. -- In a cruel twist of fate, two tornadoes, two years
apart hit the same Wisconsin family.
The family was hit first in Stoughton and more recently, in Langlade
County, WISC-TV reported.
It was less than two weeks ago when an F-3 tornado wiped out the Bear
Paw Outdoor Adventure Resort. The owners are still cleaning up and
canceling reservations.
One of the resort owners, Shirlee Roche, said that she has been down the
road before. Roche is the daughter of Shirley and Charlie Page, who lost
their home to the Stoughton tornado nearly two years ago.
Page said that she's still trying to come to terms with the double
destruction.
"I was in total shock," said Page. "I just couldn't believe that it
could hit us twice in a couple of years. You're just devastated. You
just don't know what to think."
The Pages rebuilt their Town of Pleasant Springs home on the same site,
but it took them seven months.
Despite the family's bad luck, Page said that she's grateful for all the
help she and her daughter have received.
"She has said that a number of times, 'Mom, how did you do it?'" said
Page. "But you know, you've got to go forward. That's life. Tragedy
happens and you got to move on. That's all I can keep telling her."
Roche said that she and the other co-owner of the resort aren't sure if
they will rebuilt, although she would like to see the resort rebuilt.
Roche has been busy canceling reservations since the storm, which is a
task made extra hard considering the information was stored on computers
that were also damaged in the tornado.
Cleanup is still ongoing at the Bear Paw resort, WISC-TV reported.