Teen Accidentally Killed While Hunting

MENDON (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A teen was accidentally shot by his uncle while hunting.

Police say Nathan Truckey, 14, of Mendon was goose hunting with his uncle, Richard, on the river near the intersection of King Rd. and Krupp Rd. in Leonidas.

Other hunters came to Nathans aid, pulled him to shore and called for an ambulance. He died later that day in the hospital.

Nathan's family says it was a terrible accident and that he was a great kid with a great spirit. Nathan was a Freshman at Mendon High School. He was going to celebrate his 15th Birthday on January 30th. His family says he played on the JV football team.

This is the obituary released by Eickhoff Funeral Home:

Nathan Edward David Truckey, age 14 of Mendon, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 at Borgess Medical in Kalamazoo from injuries received in a hunting accident in Leonidas Township. He was born in Three Rivers on Jan. 30, 1993 the son of Stacy Truckey and Kris Coffey and was a lifetime resident of Mendon. Nathan was currently a Freshman at Mendon High School and was member of the J.V. football team. He loved all outdoor sports including hunting, trapping, boating, skiing, camping, and ice fishing.

Nathan is survived by his father, Stacy Truckey and his companion, Sue Root of Mendon; his mother, Kris Combs of Lodi, Ohio; sister, Theresa Truckey of Mendon; half-sister, Lindsey Brooks of Lodi, OH; step-sister, Amber Harris and step-brother, Charley Harris both of Mendon; paternal grandparents, Dave & Janet Truckey of Mendon; maternal grandparents, Debra Kay (Jim) Bingham of Belding and Norman (Debbie) Coffey of Colorado Springs, CO; maternal great-grandparents, Maxine & Robert Taylor of Bronson; uncle, Rich (Julie) Truckey, and their son Cory Girdley of Mendon; 2 aunts, Jessie (Lennie) Nolan of Elkhart and Tricia Hutching and her children, KayLyn Runyan and David Currence, Jr of Lodi, OH.; his girlfriend, Amanda Burnham; many cousins, friends, and classmates.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 at the Crossroads Missionary Church (2 miles west of Mendon) with Rev. Chuck Lambdin and Rev. Rick Schultz officiating.

Cremation will follow services and a private interment of ashes will take place later. Memorials may be directed to the family. Online register and condolences can be made at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com