Waukesha Christmas Parade: Dancing grannies and boy among victims

A candlelit vigil for the victims of the parade incident in Waukesha

The six people killed by an SUV that ploughed through a Wisconsin Christmas parade on Sunday included an eight-year-old boy and members of a local dance troupe, the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies.

More than 60 others - including a Catholic priest and schoolchildren - were injured and dozens remain in local hospitals.

"Our group was doing what they loved, performing in front of crowds in a parade," the troupe said in a statement on Monday after the incident. "Putting smiles on faces of all ages, filling them with joy and happiness."

The group grew out of an exercise class in 1984, with dozens of women, most ranging in age from their mid-50s to mid-70s, becoming members over the years - with only one requirement: they needed to be a grandmother to join, the Associated Press reports.

Three of the victims were dancing grannies themselves while the fourth victim was married to one of them and helped out with the group when required.

Jackson Sparks, eight

Jackson was hit alongside his 12-year old brother, Tucker.

He had been marching with his baseball team when he was struck.

According to his GoFundMe page, Jackson underwent brain surgery on Sunday and needed "a miracle".

His brother, who suffered a fractured skull, is expected by family members to recover. Tucker was among 62 people injured.

The family said in a statement that they "ask for privacy at this time to allow Tucker to continue to heal physically and their family to heal and mourn the tremendous loss of their sweet little boy who is now under the care of Jesus".

In a statement, the Waukesha Blazers baseball team remembered Sparks as "sweet and tender-hearted with a contagious smile".

"He was the little guy on the team that everyone supported. You couldn't help but love him".

Tamara Durand, 52

Tamara Durand with her husband Dave

According to the Wisconsin-based Daily Citizen, Ms Durand was a former school teacher in the town of Beaver Dam. Her LinkedIn page says she was a chaplain at Waukesha Memorial Hospital.

The Citizen reports that Ms Durand was participating in the parade as a first-time member of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies. The group meets once a week to practise for about 25 parades each year.

A friend told local media she was "a woman who never stopped" and had been "super excited" for her debut with the troupe.

Ms Durand reportedly took care of her grandson four days a week so that her daughter could go to nursing school.

In 2009, Ms Durand made headlines after rescuing a man from drowning in the Wisconsin River.

Her husband, Dave Durand, who was not at the parade, told the New York Times that he identified his wife's body in the morgue.

"She was vibrant, energetic," the entrepreneur told the newspaper. "Everyone knew her. She was that kind of person that captured your attention as soon as she walked into the room."

Virginia Sorenson, 79

Virginia Sorenson loved the "camaraderie" of the dancing group, her husband said

A registered nurse who worked part-time handling medical records, Mrs Sorenson was a long-time member of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies.

Her husband of 56 years, Dave Sorenson, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that, in spite of a bad back and bad hip, she liked "everything" about the group.

"She liked the instructing. She liked the dancing and the camaraderie of the women," he said. "She liked to perform."

Mrs Sorenson leaves behind three children and six grandchildren, as well as the horses, chickens, dogs and cats she looked after at home.

Mr Sorenson told the newspaper that his wife had offered to help the group carry a banner down the street when the incident took place.

LeAnna Owen, 71

LeAnna Owen was the smallest and shortest member of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

She leaves behind two sons.

Ms Owen was the manager at Packard Glen Apartments in Cudahy, Wisconsin for almost 10 years, CNN reports. Staff posted a notice informing residents of her death.

Dave Schmidt, the owner of the apartments, hailed her as "the glue that kept that apartment complex running", adding she "didn't have a mean bone in her body".

Wilhelm Hospel, 81

Born in Germany, Wilhelm Hospel was also associated with the Dancing Grannies. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, his wife Lola was a member of the group and Mr Hospel was a familiar presence among them as he helped to ferry the dancers about.

Witnesses told local media he was handing out water to the group when the SUV mowed them down.

His brother, Theodore, told the New York Post that Mr Hospel, who was the youngest of five brothers, died after suffering internal bleeding and injuries to his pelvis.

He told the newspaper that his brother was healthy and spent his spare time repairing things around his home.

"He was so strong. I cannot believe it," Theodore said.

Jane Kulich, 52

Ms Kulich was described as "a loving, beautiful and charismatic mother"

A mother and grandmother of three, Ms Kulich reportedly worked at Citizens Bank, which in a statement quoted by local media confirmed that "one of our team members who was walking with the parade float was struck and passed away as a result of her injuries".

Jose Suarez, the owner of a local restaurant, said Ms Kulich had previously worked under him for four years. "I know Jane is in a good place now," he told NBC news.

On her LinkedIn page, Ms Kulich described herself as a "very hard worker" who enjoyed helping others.

A GoFundMe page set up to pay for funeral costs described her as "a loving, beautiful and charismatic mother, grandmother and friend to so many".

In a Facebook post, her daughter Taylor Smith reportedly wrote: "My mom was killed last night. We are told she didn't suffer."