Obit: Govek, Frank A. #2 (1947? - 1964)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Lato, Govek

----Source: Tribune/Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wis.) 07/02/1964

Govek, Frank A. (1947? - 28 JUN 1964)

Two boys drowned at Rock Dam beach, near Greenwood (Clark Co., Wis.) last Sunday. The accidents occurred less than three hours apart.

Dead are Frank A. Govek, 17, Willard, and David P. Lato, 14, Chicago.

Lato drowned at about 12:30 p.m., when he stepped into a drop-off near shore. His father and other members of the family were in a boat about 75 feet away when he drowned. The body was recovered with grappling hooks about an hour and 15 minutes later.

Govek was swimming in an area downstream from the spot where the Lato boy drowned when he disappeared in about 10 feet of water, shortly before 3 p.m. He was swimming with his brother and two other boys when the accident occurred. They called for help when he went under and several other swimmers searched for him. Govek's body was recovered about 15 minutes later. He had apparently suffered cramps.

The Thorp ambulance was called to the scene with rescue equipment on both occasions. The unit had just returned from the first call when it was called to the second drowning.

Rock Dam beach has bath house facilities, but no life guards. A futile gesture was made by authorities following the second drowning, when they closed the beach for the day. The beach was apparently reopened on the following day without life guards.