Community remembers MATC instructor who drowned in Wis. River while saving children

Kou Her
Kou Her(NBC15)
Published: Jul. 13, 2019 at 1:57 PM CDT
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The community is honoring and remembering the father and Madison College instructor who gave his life saving his three children in the Wisconsin River over the weekend.

According to the Sauk County Sheriff's Office, the man is 53-year-old Kou Her of Madison.

"Kou is a hero. Kou was a hero to his family and to his community. Kou is passionate about his work at the college, about the students he served, passionate about his relationships with his colleagues and about the community that he served every day. I will miss him, " Chris Vandall, Madison College Dean of Academic Advancement said.

Her's body was found by boaters Sunday about 10 miles downstream from the Prairie du Sac Dam at 7:27 a.m.

The 53-year-old father was fishing Saturday, when his three children swam out too far on the Wisconsin River. Her and his wife swam out to try to bring them in, but Her never resurfaced.

"He died showing the most fatherly love trying to rescue his children," said Lieutenant James Hodges with the Sauk County Sheriff's Office, who helped try to recover Her.

Her's wife and three children survived.

Officials confirmed no foul play is suspected and his death has been ruled an accidental drowning.

Visitations: Friday, July 19, from 3-5 p.m. and Saturday, July 20, from 9-10 a.m.

Services: Friday, July 19 from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, July 20, 10-11:30 a.m.

Burial Service: Saturday, July 20, 12:30 p.m.

Funeral Home: Gunderson Funeral Home, 1150 Park Street, Oregon, WI 53575, (608) 835-3515

Cemetery: Highland Memorial Gardens, 3054 County Road BB, Madison, WI 53718

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to the Kou Her Children’s Memorial Fund at Summit Credit Union.

The family was asked to start a GoFundMe in Her's name.