Red Cloud Indian School officials is suspending classes Thursday so students, staff and family can mourn the loss of 2008 graduate Casey Zimiga.

Zimiga, who was an 18-year-old freshman at Chadron State College this year, died in a car accident March 12 west of Pine Ridge.

A wake was held Wednesday at the Paul "Dizzy" Trout Memorial Field House at the Red Cloud school where the funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday.

"He was a very good kid," said Red Cloud Superintendent Bob Brave Heart. "He was outgoing; he was free to be himself. He wasn't afraid to do what he thought was right."

Zimiga had aspirations of becoming an actor, and he was involved with theater productions at Red Cloud, Brave Heart said.

"He loved it more than anything it seems."

The school does not always approve requests to hold services on school grounds, but officials approved Zimiga's service because of his ties to staff and students who are still at the school.

"He'll be sorely missed by his tightknit circle of friends," he said.

The announcement of Zimiga's death was made at the school Friday, where students and staff gathered to share stories and pray together.

"It's a very tragic and difficult situation and time," Brave Heart said.

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com