Ky. community grieves beloved student killed in Seoul: ‘Life’s not fair’

Over the weekend, Bralley acquired a name from Beechwood’s principal, who instructed him that Gieske, a 20-year-old nursing pupil on the College of Kentucky, was killed in Seoul’s Itaewon district, when a crowd was so tightly packed throughout Halloween celebrations that it crushed tons of of individuals.

A local of a Fort Mitchell, Ky., Gieske was the youngest of 4 siblings, remembered by these near her as a sort, considerate and selfless one who had a deep religion and handled these she met like household. Her dying shocked her hometown, a tightknit neighborhood the place her household has lived for generations.

Bralley noticed Gieske over the summer time, weeks earlier than she left for South Korea, when he mentioned she got here again to assist him prepare the Beechwood marching band forward of the brand new faculty 12 months.

“There are particular children which are simply actually particular and that go above and past,” Bralley mentioned. “The very first thing I believed was, ‘Oh, my gosh. Life’s not truthful for somebody that valuable to be taken away.’ ”

At the very least two Individuals died in Saturday’s crowd surge, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul mentioned in a press release. The embassy has not named both sufferer, citing privateness issues. Steven Blesi, a 20-year-old who was additionally finding out overseas in South Korea, was the primary American publicly recognized when his household shared details about his dying on social media and with information retailers.

At the very least 156 folks have been killed and 149 have been injured within the Saturday crowd crush, together with greater than 25 foreigners. Many of the victims have been of their 20s.

The College of Kentucky’s president, Eli Capilouto, in a campus assertion known as Gieske’s dying an “indescribable loss,” including that the college would “be there for these in our neighborhood who knew and beloved Anne.”

Along with Gieske, two different college students and one college member from the college have been in South Korea, who Capilouto mentioned have been secure.

Daniela Torres, a sophomore on the College of Kentucky, mentioned she first crossed paths with Gieske at a retreat for Catholic school college students in February. There, Torres and Gieske have been a part of the identical group — steadily changing into buddies as they mentioned issues of the center and spirit.

“She was a Catholic on fireplace when it got here to her religion,” Torres mentioned.

Gieske’s mother and father, Dan and Madonna, mentioned in a press release they have been “devastated and heartbroken” over the lack of their daughter.

“She was a vibrant mild beloved by all,” they mentioned. “We ask on your prayers but in addition the respect of our privateness.”

Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), Gieske’s uncle, mentioned in a press release that the whole household has been grieving.

“She was a present from God to our household,” he mentioned. “We beloved her a lot.”

The Gieske household has lived within the tightknit neighborhood of Fort Mitchell for generations, Beechwood Principal Justin Kaiser mentioned, and plenty of of her relations got here by way of the band program.

Geiske, greater than most, was a caring one who put others “properly earlier than herself.”

“She simply loves,” Kaiser mentioned. “And so it’s stunning to not simply her household, not simply the college, however stunning to anyone who got here in touch along with her as a result of she was that memorable.”

Gieske was one of many first college students Bralley met after he turned the band director at Beechwood in the summertime of 2017.

She was so gifted that she might have been a music main, he mentioned. However he was proud when Gieske instructed him she’d chosen nursing.

“She had aspirations of creating folks blissful and comfy,” he mentioned. “Simply serving to folks, caring for them.”

Kentucky nursing pupil Ava Alexander mentioned when Gieske noticed somebody alone, she can be the primary particular person to go sit with them. When she requested “How are you?” buddies might inform she was actually listening.

On Friday, the day earlier than the group crush in Itaewon, Gieske posted pictures from her birthday celebration close to the Han River on her Instagram account. She turned 20 on Oct. 24.

Alexander, who has been buddies with Gieske because the second grade, had messaged to want her a cheerful birthday. Gieske responded that she missed her, that she would see her pal quickly.

“And I mentioned the identical to her as a result of she ought to have come dwelling quickly,” Alexander mentioned.

Brittany Shammas contributed to this report.