ROCHELLE — Police are asking for the public’s help after a memorial for a young man who died in an October 2023 traffic collision was reported missing Wednesday near Holcomb Bank at East Highway 38 and North Caron Road. The memorial included a white cross with the name Nathan in blue letters, a fishing rod, and a tackle box.
Nathan Vaupel’s mother Megan said she was shocked when she heard it was gone, “My heart just sank. I had a friend reach out and he told me that they had noticed that it was missing and asked me if I knew anything about it.”
Officers checked with nearby businesses and city agencies, which said they did not remove the memorial. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rochelle Police Department at 815-562-2131. Megan Vaupel said that she is working on getting the cross replaced, but hopes the original items can be found.
“That’s all I can hope for. I really don’t care who took it, I simply just want it returned. That’s the only thing that matters to me at this point.”
Nathan Vaupel was 21 when he was struck while riding a bicycle near that intersection.