Friends and neighbors, relatives and strangers have opened their hearts and pocketbooks for Sam’s funeral expenses. A GoFundMe account was set up with donations reaching $8,200 as of Sunday night. The goal is $8,400.

Samuel (Sam...Sammy) Rowold was only 13 years old when he passed away Feb. 23 in a pond near his home just northeast of Ada. The teenager was non-verbal autistic.

To give, go to:
GoFundMe.com
Then, at the top of the page in the Search box, type Sam’s Funeral Expense.

Donations above the cost of the funeral will be given to the Autism Support Group from Hardin County to buy GPS bracelets for other autistic children to help keep them safe.

Funeral services were held last Thursday. Burial was in McElroy Cemetery near Ada.