WAUPACA COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Neenah-Menasha firefighters are hoping to honor the son of one of their own.
15-year-old Jacob Peglow was shot and killed nearly two years ago.
The 2nd Annual Jake Peglow Memorial Sporting Clay Shoot taking place Saturday will help fund a park in Jake’s name.
The incident happened July 26, 2017, and it’s a day Jacob’s father Jim Peglow tells FOX 11 he and his family will never forget.
“It’s every parent’s worst nightmare.”
Jacob Peglow was shot and killed by his friend, now 19-year-old Austin Hovarter.
The incident was originally ruled an accident but Hovarter was later convicted of reckless homicide.
“You relive the court hearings and you relive the day of his death,” said Peglow.
Jim Peglow’s family at the Neenah-Menasha Fire Department relived it with him and wanted to help keep Jake’s memory alive.
“They wanted to do something perpetual, and they said Jake loves hunting and fishing all the time and would a trap shooting event be okay. Jake would love a trap shooting event…let’s go with it!”
That was the start of the Jake Peglow Memorial Sporting Clays Shoot, which pays for the Jake Peglow Memorial Park on Little Round Lake in the Town of Dayton.
The Peglow family bought the land in Jake’s honor.
Funds from the event will help pay for the pier installed at the park, as well as other park improvements, such as adding benches and picnic tables, all for the public to use.
Brian Lin lives near the park.
“It sat empty and it was kind of a lowland prior, and now they’re building it into a park, so it’s a positive thing – let people come down and fish. I didn’t know the young man, but I guess he was an outdoors fellow, so it’s a good remembrance.”
Jim Peglow said if there was anything that involved being outside, Jake was there.
“He was ready to go fishing, go hunting…go try something new, always! And it was usually all in the same day. School got in the way of all of his hunting and fishing. “
The area the Jake Peglow Memorial Park is located at was a special place for the avid outdoorsman, and Jim Peglow says now it’s also a special place for him and his family.
“That’s kind of our nice, quiet reflection time, is when we’re out fishing, or when we’re sitting in the deer stand – we know Jake is nearby, so that’s really nice.”
The Jake Peglow Memorial Sporting Clays shoot starts Saturday at 8 a.m at J&H Game Farm in Shiocton.
It’s $25 for 50 targets.
