Hundreds pack funerals for two fallen Boy Scouts

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10360381

Published Tuesday June 17, 2008
Hundreds pack funerals for two fallen Boy Scouts
BY STEVE JORDON AND VIRGIL LARSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS

The families of two Boy Scouts killed in Wednesday's tornado at the Little Sioux Scout Ranch buried their sons this morning.

Benjamin Ryan Petrzilka and Samuel Zachary Jordan Thomsen, both 13, were remembered as boys becoming young men who were loved by their families.


Boy Scout Venturing Crew 558 from Missouri Valley, Iowa, provided the honor guard for today's funeral of Ben Petrzilka, a Scout killed last week during a tornado at Little Sioux Scout Ranch in Iowa. The funeral was at Mary Our Queen Catholic Church.


Sam was an enthusiastic member of his church who wanted to become a minister.

Ben was described as a boy who lived the Scout oath and law, had a strong faith and always looked for positive traits in people.

The tornado also killed Josh Fennen of Omaha and Aaron Eilerts of Eagle Grove, Iowa, and injured 42 others. The Fennen family held a memorial service Saturday. Aaron Eilerts' funeral was Monday in West Point, Neb.

They were among more than 90 Scouts taking part in leadership training when the tornado struck the Iowa camp, demolishing a cabin where dozens of Scouts had taken shelter. A chimney at the cabin collapsed, sending heavy concrete blocks onto the Scouts who died.

Sam's service, attended by more than 600 people, was at Southwest Church of Christ, 2600 S. 124th St., where he was a member with his parents, Larry and Sharon, and sisters, Lindsay and Sara.

FULL story at link.