Student detained in N Korea is mourned at hometown funeral
WYOMING, Ohio — Celebrating the life of an American college student who was detained in North Korea for over a year and died shortly after returning home in a coma, a packed crowd of mourners gathered Thursday as Otto Warmbier’s loved ones shared stories about his affinity for hugs, thrift-store clothes-shopping and little-known rap music.
More mourners lined the street, with some holding signs of support and pressing the tips of their thumbs together to form a “W,” as a hearse carried away the casket after the public service at a school in Warmbier’s hometown of Wyoming, near Cincinnati. A rabbi officiated at the service, which was closed to news media.
“It doesn’t really feel real yet. He’s so young, and he’s been gone for so long,” said Grady Beerck, 22, a former soccer teammate. “The impact he made is always going to last with people.”
So many showed up that officials had to turn about a hundred people away once roughly 2,000 had filled an auditorium, cafeteria and gym for the service. Warmbier’s passport and jacket were on display as mourners signed a memorial book.