Wis. Town to Bury 7 of Its Young People*

Friday October 12, 2007 11:01 AM

By CARRIE ANTLFINGER

Associated Press Writer

CRANDON, Wis. (AP) - Pastor Bill Farr's son grew up with Tyler Peterson,
the young sheriff's deputy who shot and killed six friends and injured a
seventh before killing himself. The two hunted and fished together, he said.

Now, Farr is struggling to find the right words for his eulogy of the
20-year-old man who caused this close-knit community so much pain.
Meanwhile, he must work to ease the suffering of Peterson's family, the
victims' families and friends.

Funerals for the seven were to begin Friday with services for
20-year-old Aaron Smith. They are expected to take place over the course
of the next week.

``A lot of times what I do, I'll sit down in the office or on our couch
at home and ... I'll just say, `OK Lord, what do you want me to do?'
because I just don't know,'' said Farr, pastor of Praise Chapel
Community Church, which several of the families attend.

Peterson, who was also a part-time police officer, killed himself hours
after he shot and killed his former girlfriend Jordanne Murray, 18, at
her home early Sunday.

He also fatally Bradley Schultz, 20; Lianna Thomas, 18; Katrina
McCorkle, 18, and Lindsey Stahl, 14. A seventh victim, Charlie Neitzel,
21, was hospitalized in fair condition Thursday.

Farr will also officiate at the funerals of Schultz, Stahl and Thomas.

He said that when he eulogizes Peterson, he does not plan to focus on
his last acts, but his rather entire life. ``Tyler is not defined by
that one act, but 20 years of good, of helping people,'' he said.

This city of about 2,000 people, known in the region as a vacation
destination for hunting, fishing and snowmobiling, now has numerous
memorials along its main street. They include yellow ribbons on poles,
window displays and a bench that reads simply, ``Love You Guys.''

Peterson's family apologized to the community in a statement earlier
this week. ``We are struggling to respond like most of you,'' the
statement said. ``We do not know what we should do. Like you many of us
are asking why and looking for answers.''

Farr said he planned to share upbeat stories in his eulogies, such as
how Stahl's nickname was T-bone, because she was a vegetarian.

``What I want to focus on is the life that they lived,'' he said.