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This story was produced by My UP News Digital Reporter Schyler Perkins, find the original story here.
A medical examiner in Ontonagon has confirmed a body found on Lake Superior over the weekend belonged to a kayaker who was last seen in July 2023.
Tuesday afternoon, a spokesperson for Michigan State Police said a man’s body was found Sunday, and that the county’s medical examiner later confirmed the body belonged to 74-year-old Dale Venema who went missing after kayaking on Lake Superior in mid-July.
The spokesperson said the initial search for Venema lasted several days but yielded no sign of him.
MSP did not indicate any suspicion of foul play involved in Venema’s death.
The spokesperson said Michigan State Police would like to thank the Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Department, the Ontonagon County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ontonagon County Medical Examiner’s Office, Negaunee Regional Communication Center, United States Coast Guard, US Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan State Police Marine Services Unit, Bruce’s Legacy Search and Recovery (Wisconsin), the Ontonagon Harbor Master and the Village of Ontonagon employees for their efforts in the search for Mr. Venema.
“We would also like to thank the residents and visitors of Ontonagon who provided information that helped lead to this recovery. Our condolences and prayers remain with the family,” said the spokesperson.
Paddling on Lake Superior can be extremely dangerous. You can find safety tips for kayakers on the DNR’s website.
