A Hanska Couple’s Final Journey Together Leaves Family and Community Grieving

 HANSKA, Minn. — The Hanska community is mourning the deaths of Paul Rewitzer, 73, and Paulette Rewitzer, 74, following a two-vehicle collision early Saturday morning on Brown County Road 13. Their deaths have brought sorrow to relatives, friends and others who knew the couple, while an ongoing investigation continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office was called shortly after midnight after receiving a report of a serious collision just north of Brown County Road 22. Deputies arriving at the scene found two heavily damaged vehicles, a Chevy Silverado and an Oldsmobile. The scene reflected the severity of the event and prompted an emergency response as authorities worked to determine what had occurred.

According to the information available, 28-year-old Shianne Lee Escobar of Hanska was associated with the Silverado. Deputy Erik Byro was among the first responders to reach the area and encountered Escobar outside the Oldsmobile. Inside that vehicle, deputies located Paul and Paulette, who had suffered severe injuries. Both were pronounced deceased at the scene.

For the Rewitzer family, the sudden deaths of Paul and Paulette represent the loss of two lives that had been intertwined for decades. At 73 and 74, they had accumulated years of shared experiences, relationships and memories that cannot be replaced. Their passing has left loved ones facing the difficult task of grieving while remembering the life they built together.

The circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation. The information provided states that Escobar is facing two counts of vehicular homicide in connection with the deaths of Paul and Paulette. Those allegations are part of the legal process, and the investigation is expected to establish additional details about the events leading up to the collision and the factors involved.

As Hanska remembers the couple, the focus naturally extends beyond the roadway where their lives ended. Paul and Paulette were people known through their relationships with family, friends and their community. For those who loved them, memories of ordinary conversations, shared occasions and years spent together will carry far greater meaning than the circumstances of their final moments.

Funeral or memorial arrangements for Paul and Paulette were not included in the available information. Their family may provide additional details as plans are finalized. Until then, friends and community members can honor their memory by offering compassion to those closest to them and allowing the family the space needed to navigate this painful period.

Paul and Paulette Rewitzer leave behind a story that is ultimately about two people whose lives were connected and whose absence is now deeply felt. Their loved ones will carry forward the memories created over many years, while the Hanska community mourns alongside them. May Paul and Paulette be remembered with dignity, love and compassion, and may their family find strength in the memories they shared.