Area man drowns in Center Lake

A rescue mission turned into a recovery mission on Sept. 10, hours after Kenosha County Sheriff’s Deputies and Salem Fire and Rescue to Camp Lake responded to the report of a 75-year-old swimmer missing.

                  Witnesses told authorities they saw Clyde Routheaux go under the water and said he did not resurface.

                  The Kenosha County Dive Team was called in to assist along with other area agencies.

                  Preliminary reports indicate that Routheaux, of Salem, was boating with family and friends on Center Lake.  While on the lake they decided to go swimming off the side of the boat. Routheaux entered the water with a depth of about 22 feet, went under and did not resurface. Family and friends attempted to locate him in the water just prior to called 911.

                  After two hours of searching the mission was switched to a recovery and approximately midnight Routheaux’s body was recovered about 200 yards from where he went in.

                  This incident is being considered a boating accident and the investigation was be turned over to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources after the recovery mission concluded.

                  Sheriff’s reports said there were no signs of violence and the body was turned over to the Kenosha County Medical Examiner’s office.

                  Routheaux was a truck driver by trade and an antique vehicle enthusiast. He enjoyed restoring motorcycles, cars and tractors and enjoyed racing motorcycles and was a member of the Racine Motorcycle Club and S. S. Wisconsin Antique Power and Collectibles Society. He enjoyed traveling and had recently returned from a trip to the Philippines. He was an avid Packer fan and had lived with his wife in the Salem area for over a decade. His wife, Virginia, preceded him in death in 2010, after 52 years of marriage. Together they raised six children in the area.


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