In Loving Memory of Katy Ann Schaefer
In the quiet hours of early Sunday morning, a devastating crash on County Highway A in Ellenboro Township, Grant County, Wisconsin, forever changed the lives of many and left a community mourning the loss of a young woman gone far too soon. Twenty-six-year-old Katy Ann Schaefer of Montfort was pronounced dead at the scene, her life tragically cut short in a rollover crash that occurred around 2:37 a.m.
According to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Katy was a passenger in a 2007 Ford F350 traveling eastbound on County Highway A near Buckwheat Ridge Road. The vehicle, driven by 17-year-old Christopher Brandemuehl of rural Lancaster, left the roadway after striking the southern edge of the pavement. It then crossed the center line, entered the opposite ditch, and struck an embankment before rolling multiple times and coming to rest on its side. Both occupants were ejected from the vehicle. Authorities believe speed may have been a contributing factor in the crash.
Emergency responders arrived swiftly to the heartbreaking scene, but despite their efforts, Katy Schaefer was pronounced deceased. Christopher Brandemuehl sustained critical injuries and was airlifted by AirCare3 to UW Hospital in Madison for urgent medical treatment. The roadway remained closed for approximately seven hours as investigators worked to reconstruct the tragic sequence of events.
For those who knew Katy, the news is almost impossible to comprehend. She was a daughter, a friend, and a familiar presence in the lives of those around her—a young woman with a future still unfolding, dreams still forming, and moments still waiting to be lived. Her absence leaves an aching void that words cannot easily fill.
In times like this, communities are reminded of how fragile life can be, and how quickly everything can change in a matter of seconds. The stretch of County Highway A where the crash occurred now stands as a somber reminder of that truth—of a night that began like any other but ended in irreversible loss.
As family, friends, and community members grieve, they hold tightly to memories of Katy: her laughter, her spirit, and the moments she shared with those who loved her. Though her time here was far too brief, the impact of her life will continue to live on in the hearts of many.
May Katy Ann Schaefer be remembered not for the way her life ended, but for the love she gave, the joy she brought, and the light she carried in her own unique way. May she rest in peace, and may those who mourn her find strength, comfort, and healing in the difficult days ahead.









