Kyle D. Mitchell, 20, of Winnebago, died Monday afternoon, July 21, 2008, with his dad, Mike, in his arms, resulting from a tragic farming accident.
Born January 7, 1988, in Rockford. He graduated as class valedictorian from Winnebago High School in 2006 and was going to be a junior at the University of Illinois, in Urbana-Champaign, majoring in agricultural engineering. Growing up on the family dairy farm instilled the values of farm life in Kyle: hard work, discipline and responsibility. He applied these traits to all his interests, including soccer, music and socializing. Kyle was a member of the Junior Holstein Association, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Rock Valley College Student Leaders, Phi Theta Kappa, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as youth elder, Seward Determination 4-H Club, captain of the Winnebago High School soccer team, a member of the Academic All-State Soccer Team, the Winnebago High School Band and the Mitchell Family Band.
Michael J. Mitchell, 53, and his son, Kyle, 20, died from toxic fumes given off in a waste manure pit on their dairy farm in the 11500 block of Edwardsville Road.
Sheriff's Sgt. Steve DePauw said the incident began when the father went into a 12- to 15-foot-deep waste pit to make equipment repairs. He was overcome by toxic fumes created by the animal waste.
Kyle Mitchell attempted to rescue his father, but he, too, was overcome by the fumes. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
A second son called 911 at 1:37 p.m., DePauw said.
Autopsies are scheduled for Wednesday.
"I'm pretty sure they were overcome by the fumes down in the hole," said Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia.
Multiple Technical Rescue Teams from area fire departments were called to the scene.
Born January 7, 1988, in Rockford. He graduated as class valedictorian from Winnebago High School in 2006 and was going to be a junior at the University of Illinois, in Urbana-Champaign, majoring in agricultural engineering. Growing up on the family dairy farm instilled the values of farm life in Kyle: hard work, discipline and responsibility. He applied these traits to all his interests, including soccer, music and socializing. Kyle was a member of the Junior Holstein Association, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Rock Valley College Student Leaders, Phi Theta Kappa, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as youth elder, Seward Determination 4-H Club, captain of the Winnebago High School soccer team, a member of the Academic All-State Soccer Team, the Winnebago High School Band and the Mitchell Family Band.
Michael J. Mitchell, 53, and his son, Kyle, 20, died from toxic fumes given off in a waste manure pit on their dairy farm in the 11500 block of Edwardsville Road.
Sheriff's Sgt. Steve DePauw said the incident began when the father went into a 12- to 15-foot-deep waste pit to make equipment repairs. He was overcome by toxic fumes created by the animal waste.
Kyle Mitchell attempted to rescue his father, but he, too, was overcome by the fumes. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
A second son called 911 at 1:37 p.m., DePauw said.
Autopsies are scheduled for Wednesday.
"I'm pretty sure they were overcome by the fumes down in the hole," said Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia.
Multiple Technical Rescue Teams from area fire departments were called to the scene.
Kyle D. Mitchell, 20, of Winnebago, died Monday afternoon, July 21, 2008, with his dad, Mike, in his arms, resulting from a tragic farming accident.
Born January 7, 1988, in Rockford. He graduated as class valedictorian from Winnebago High School in 2006 and was going to be a junior at the University of Illinois, in Urbana-Champaign, majoring in agricultural engineering. Growing up on the family dairy farm instilled the values of farm life in Kyle: hard work, discipline and responsibility. He applied these traits to all his interests, including soccer, music and socializing. Kyle was a member of the Junior Holstein Association, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Rock Valley College Student Leaders, Phi Theta Kappa, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as youth elder, Seward Determination 4-H Club, captain of the Winnebago High School soccer team, a member of the Academic All-State Soccer Team, the Winnebago High School Band and the Mitchell Family Band.
Michael J. Mitchell, 53, and his son, Kyle, 20, died from toxic fumes given off in a waste manure pit on their dairy farm in the 11500 block of Edwardsville Road.
Sheriff's Sgt. Steve DePauw said the incident began when the father went into a 12- to 15-foot-deep waste pit to make equipment repairs. He was overcome by toxic fumes created by the animal waste.
Kyle Mitchell attempted to rescue his father, but he, too, was overcome by the fumes. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
A second son called 911 at 1:37 p.m., DePauw said.
Autopsies are scheduled for Wednesday.
"I'm pretty sure they were overcome by the fumes down in the hole," said Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia.
Multiple Technical Rescue Teams from area fire departments were called to the scene.
Born January 7, 1988, in Rockford. He graduated as class valedictorian from Winnebago High School in 2006 and was going to be a junior at the University of Illinois, in Urbana-Champaign, majoring in agricultural engineering. Growing up on the family dairy farm instilled the values of farm life in Kyle: hard work, discipline and responsibility. He applied these traits to all his interests, including soccer, music and socializing. Kyle was a member of the Junior Holstein Association, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Rock Valley College Student Leaders, Phi Theta Kappa, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as youth elder, Seward Determination 4-H Club, captain of the Winnebago High School soccer team, a member of the Academic All-State Soccer Team, the Winnebago High School Band and the Mitchell Family Band.
Michael J. Mitchell, 53, and his son, Kyle, 20, died from toxic fumes given off in a waste manure pit on their dairy farm in the 11500 block of Edwardsville Road.
Sheriff's Sgt. Steve DePauw said the incident began when the father went into a 12- to 15-foot-deep waste pit to make equipment repairs. He was overcome by toxic fumes created by the animal waste.
Kyle Mitchell attempted to rescue his father, but he, too, was overcome by the fumes. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
A second son called 911 at 1:37 p.m., DePauw said.
Autopsies are scheduled for Wednesday.
"I'm pretty sure they were overcome by the fumes down in the hole," said Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia.
Multiple Technical Rescue Teams from area fire departments were called to the scene.
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