May 8, 2008
Bodies of missing fishermen found
in Wisconsin River near Mosinee
by Karyn Eckert, Tribune Phonograph
After nearly a month of anxious searching, family and friends of Leonard Pond and Dylan DeCaire found the fishermen’s bodies this past weekend.
DeCaire, 17, of Dorchester, and Pond, of Owen, have been missing since their boat capsized April 6 while fishing the Wisconsin River near the Wausau Paper Corp. dam in Mosinee.
According to Marathon County Sheriff Lt. Fred Goch, the first body, identified as Pond, was located Friday afternoon about one mile south of the dam near Bean’s Eddy boat landing. The Marathon County dive team assisted with the recovery.
The second body, identified as DeCaire, was found Sunday afternoon by family members near Bird Lane, over a mile south of the dam. Family members assisted with pulling DeCaire from the water, Goch said.
The Marathon County coroner’s office has officially identified their bodies and pronounced the cause of death to be drowning.
Goch said Tuesday he was unsure if the bodies have been released yet to the families of DeCaire and Pond.
Remembering Dylan, Lee
Rod DeCaire, an uncle to Dylan and friend to Lee, fondly recalls memories of the two who were both avid hunters and fishermen.
Being his uncle, Rod has known Dylan since birth.
“We watched him grow up,” Rod said.
Dylan loved basketball, football and the outdoors. He wore #20 and played defensive end on the Colby varsity football team, and was a member of the golf team. Rod said Dylan took a special liking to archery and was just learning carp shooting from Mitch Norbisch.
Dylan was also an honor roll student. Rod said he was a good student and had never been in any trouble.
“He was a very good kid,” he said.
Like the rest of the DeCaire family, Rod also liked hunting. He said Dylan’s favorite caliber for deer hunting was a .270, and Rod taught Dylan to load his own shells. Together they came up with a special formula for turkey hunting.
“Magic turkey shells,” Rod said.
Dylan was always busy and also liked paintball, shooting clay pigeons and playing cribbage.
“You couldn’t keep up to him,” Rod said. “He was very full of life. He was not afraid to tackle any obstacle.”
Rod said he first met Lee Pond 15 years ago while ice fishing north of Owen. Lee pulled up on a snowmobile and they started talking. Rod learned Lee worked with his brother at Liberty Homes.
“We’ve been friends ever since,” he said.
Lee also loved the outdoors, especially hunting geese and ducks, and trapping.
“He loved his dog Sammy,” Rod said.
While Lee did not have any children of his own, he did enjoy teaching youth the tricks in hunting and fishing.
“He liked to take the kids,” Rod said. “He was a good time.”
Since Dylan and Lee disappeared in early April, friends, family and complete strangers have rallied behind the cause of finding the two lost fishermen.
Some helped directly. Searchers went out on the water and combed the banks for Lee and Dylan. Others dropped off donations and supplies to assist. Funds were set up in banks to assist with collection of donations for the mounting search expenses.
Others helped through hope and prayer. A group on the social networking web site, Facebook, “In Loving Memory of Dylan J. DeCaire,” garnered 578 members during the past month. Many posted messages for Dylan and his family and friends.
“Fate just has a painful way of taking people, especially the ones we truly love, at such young ages. You have nooooooo idea how much I miss you! But I know that no amount of tears will bring you back. I know that I and everyone who misses you will look back on all the fun times and sad times we had with you and never regret any of it!” posted one person on the site.
“When we walk across the stage next year and get our diplomas and we all head in separate directions, this will be the link between us that keeps us together,” writes another. “By being your friend, you have stamped all our hearts with the love and kindness you showed to all of us. That stamp can’t be removed, by anything, even death. With your help we can get through this. I know you didn’t want us to suffer.”
DeCaire worked part-time at County Market in Abbotsford. The grocery store owner, Dennis Kramer, said DeCaire was a bright young man who always walked with his hand in his pocket.
“He was well liked because he was a pleasant young man, the kind most parents would be proud to have,” Kramer said. “He was just a nice kid.”
Donations for the families of both DeCaire and Pond are still being collected, and an 8-pin tap benefit is planned at Spare Time Lanes. The tournament will be held May 23-24. To register call Spare Time Lanes at 223-2750.
Funeral arrangements
Funeral services for Dylan DeCaire are planned for Friday, May 9, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Colby. The Rev. John Gualbert will preside. A visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the church in Colby, and Friday at the church from 10 a.m. until time of services. Private burial services will take place at a later time.
A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday in Rhinelander by Lee’s twin brother, Jim Pond.
