PEWAUKEE, WISCONSIN — The wife of a JB Hunt truck driver killed by lightning at a Waukesha County gas station on April 16 has come forward to share her husband’s story, remember the man he was, and urge others to take severe weather warnings seriously.
Pete Garamone, 41, a long-haul JB Hunt truck driver from York, Pennsylvania, was returning to his truck at a Kwik Trip off I-94 near Golf Road when lightning struck him in the parking lot. He was able to call 911 himself after being struck but became unresponsive before responders arrived. Passers-by attempted to revive him at the scene. Despite their efforts and those of local emergency services and hospital staff, Garamone did not survive. He was the first lightning fatality in the United States in 2026.
His wife, Lisa Cox, received the news by phone from the emergency room — a call she did not believe at first. “I hung up on the doctor because I didn’t believe her. And I started calling my husband’s cell phone, and the police picked up,” Cox said.
The Man Behind the Wheel
Garamone leaves behind Cox and their 7-year-old son, Peter Paul Jr. His trucking route kept him away from home five to six days a week, but those who knew him said he made every moment at home count.
“He was my son’s best friend, and my son was his best friend. They were so close,” Cox said. “He was a strong guy, he was an extremely hard worker for his family, for our son and me.”
His father, Jim Garamone, announced the loss publicly. “I don’t really know how to say this, but our older son — Peter Paul Garamone Sr. — was hit by lightning while hauling goods in Wisconsin last night. He is dead at 41. Our hearts go out to his wife Lisa and our grandson Peter Paul Jr.,” he wrote.
Friends who contributed to the GoFundMe in his memory described him as a man who brought joy and warmth to every relationship. “To have seen Peter Paul Garamone Sr. with his son was to witness soul-bound love and contagious joy. Pete brought a gregariousness and spark with him to every relationship,” the page reads.
When his son turned five, Garamone wrote him a birthday poem that surprised everyone who knew him:
A Message to Others
Cox said her focus now is laying Garamone to rest and making sure their son is able to cope with the loss. She is raising Peter Paul Jr. to make his father proud. “I’ll spend the rest of my life reminding Peter Jr. how much his dad loved him and how amazing he was,” Cox said.
She wants people to take storm warnings seriously and not underestimate the danger of being outside during severe weather. “Anything can happen. Any day at any time. Don’t take your loved ones for granted. Always remember, always enjoy, always make sure you say goodbye, give them a hug, give them a kiss,” Cox said.
A GoFundMe has been established to help Cox and Peter Paul Jr. cover unexpected costs, bring Garamone home, and support funeral arrangements. The campaign has raised $15,880 from 146 donations toward an $18,000 goal.
Interview courtesy of TMJ4 News.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
