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Local Couple’s Grandson DrownsAlan C. “Robb” Warkentien, 17, of Rockford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alan H. Warkentien of Rockford, and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Warkentien of Lawrence, drowned early * Monday Pierce Lake in Rock Cut State Park.The youth and two other boys, Timothy C. Hooker, 18, of Cherry Valley and (^harles Solverson 17, of Rockford, started off on a midnight canoe ride Sunday, when the craft capsized. The two other youths managed to swim to safety.Warkentien’s body was found at approximately 6*15 a.m. Monday by diving teams from the Winnebago County Sheriffs Department and the Rockford Police Department. _According to Tfie* :wo survivors, the trio decided to take a canoe trip on Pierce Lake shortly after midnight. Hooker was in. the bow of the canoe, Solverson in the middle and Warkentien in the stern when Warkentien started rocking the canoe and it capsized, deputies said.Solverson swam to shore immediately and watched Warkentien and Hooker as they clung to the canoe. He said they were laughing and joking about the canoe capsizing.Hooker said Warkentien went under water several times but__ .managed in-come-up-near-himeach time and he would hold onto him to keep him afloat. Hooker said he tried unsuccessfully to place4 a life preserver around Warkentien, but that they couldn’t get Warkentien* s arms through it. Deputies said Warkentien apparently went under again and was unable to return to the surface.The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department received a call for help from an unidentified camper who had seen the youths earlier.The body was recovered in approximately 15 feet of water about 100 feet from shore.Warkentien’s death was attributed to drowning according to the Winnebago County Deputy Coroner Jim Peterson.Deputies said that although the youths had been drinking, no charges would be placed against the survivors because the alchohol was not consumed at the lake.Warkentien was a member of the Rockford East High School wrestliftgHeam-Survivors-in-addition to his parents and grandparents and a brother^ Terry; two sisters, Mrs. DarEa Cowen of Rockford, and Lynn Warkentien of Dannstadt, Germany.Funeral arrangements were .pending-Tuesday? *-
Newspaper Details
Harvard Herald
Harvard, Illinois, US
Wed, Jun 02, 1976
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
University O.
IA, USA 06 Sep 2020
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