The family relatively new to Omaha are left mourning a beloved son and brother after a Memorial Day drowning.
Edgar Gregorio Loarca Garcia died in the drowning at Lake Manawa Monday. The sixteen year old was with his two siblings on an inflatable tube when he fell off and did not come back up. Officials believe Edgar was not an experienced swimmer.
The family has only been in Omaha for two years after moving to the metro from Guatemala. The famliy attends St. Joseph Church in South Omaha and Father William Bond tells 6 News that the family’s faith is strong, and they believe Edgar has gone on to a better place.
Karen Brown was one of Edgar’s teachers and says he would have been a junior at Central High School this fall. “He was a very quiet student, well-liked by all of his peers and all of the teacher’s say he was a hard worker – always willing to do what he needed to learn the language."
Brown tells 6 News that the family has a hard time communicating in the U.S. since none of them speak English. “They speak a different language. Spanish was one of the languages we used to communicate but he actually speaks Q'anjob'al which some people consider a dialect of Spanish, but it’s actually a different language."
Edgar's large family is in need of help to make the final arrangements for the teen. “The family does not have the support here that they need. Edgar’s dream was to study in the United States then to return to Guatemala City to work, so the family’s plan is to have the interment done in Guatemala City.”
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is leading the investigation into Edgar’s apparent drowning.
If you would like to help Edgar’s family with his final arrangements a fund has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank. You can donate by asking for the Edgar Loarca Garcia Memorial Fund. This fund is the only one approved by the family: Memorial account for Edgar Loarca Garcia #1723922892