LAKE GENEVA, Wis. — The Lake Geneva community is mourning and recovering from a violent storm that caused significant tree damage, widespread power outages, and contributed to the tragic deaths of three children.

What You Need To Know

Three children were killed in Lake Geneva Friday afternoon after a boat they were on capsized and sank

Officials say storms generated high winds and waves, causing the boat to quickly take on water

Seven other people, including one child, were safely rescued from the water

All four children were wearing life vests, according to the Lake Geneva Police Department

Sunday mass at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church took place with a fallen tree in the front yard serving as a stark reminder of Friday’s deadly weather.

(Spectrum News 1/Blake Dietz)

Carol Elsholz, a parishioner at the church, said the last few days have been hard for many and that the faith community has helped her to grieve.

“I felt all of us together felt a sorrow, but a hope of something bigger than these sad days,” Elsholz said. “That there’s something hopeful.”

According to the Lake Geneva Police Department, a boat carrying 10 people — including four children — capsized and sank during the storm. Three children were declared missing in the aftermath and were found and pronounced dead a short time later. Police said the children were wearing lifejackets.

Bob Nabasny, who owns Oak Terrace Apartments in the city, noted the city’s efforts to prepare for such emergencies.

“The city has done everything possible — they bought, this past year, a patrol boat for the police department to respond to emergencies like that,” Nabasny said. “In this case, it was [they] just couldn’t get to the kids.”

His building was one of many in the city still without power. While cleaning up fallen trees and a destroyed shed, Nabasny said it’s hard not to think about what happened on the water.

(Spectrum News 1/Blake Dietz)

“It’s been a bummer. I mean, people are a little depressed about it. Everybody’s talking about it, and everybody loves kids. And it’s a shame it happened,” he said.

Resident Martha Bayle said the city has rallied together in the days since the storm. Her apartment also lost power. She was using the city’s YMCA for electricity.

“Immediately after the storm, I went out for a walk and there were people, even strangers, just showing up in people’s yards and doing the right thing,” Bayle said.

Though the loss is hard for anyone to comprehend, Elsholz said neighbors are there for support.

“I’m not alone because I have felt very, very sad as an older woman thinking, ‘Here I am. How could we lose these young lives?’” said Elsholz.

“I don’t know the answer,” she said. “So, we have to believe.”