Bio: Oestreich, Michael (1973)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Oestreich, Beaver, Nelson, Redig, Lulloff

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 8/16/1973

Oestreich, Michael (- 12 August 1973)

An 18-year-old Spencer man drowned Sunday afternoon in Lake Arbutus just a few feed within the Jackson County line. Dead is Michael Oestreich, Rt. 2 Spencer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Oestreich.

Oestreich was swimming with three friends near the beach at Russell Memorial Park around 4:30 p.m. when the friends reported that he ‘disappeared below the water.’

Gary Beaver, 16, 310 State Street, Neillsville, told authorities that he and Oestrich left the beach and swam out to a buoy, one of several making the beach for protection for skiers and boaters. Beaver stated that he remained at the buoy while Oestreich decided to return to shore and in the process disappeared.

The other two friends, who had remained on the beach, were Russel Nelson, 18, Rt. 2 Loyal, and Orin Redig, 18, of Rt. 2 Spencer.

Time of the drowning was place at 4:30 p.m. and the body was not recovered until approximately 6:30 p.m. by the Black River area rescue squad. Oestreich’s body was found in about 20 feet of water.

Clark County Coroner Robert Lulloff was called to the scene and pronounced the man dead but it was later learned that Oestreich downed just a few feet within Jackson County.

With the drowning attribution to Jackson County, Clark County has recorded only one drowning incident this year when an Owen youth drowned in the Poplar River near Owen early in the summer.

Funeral arrangements for Oestreich were being made through the Rux Funeral Home in Spencer.