GROTEGUT, Donald R. died 1982

GROTEGUT

Posted By: LA (email)
Date: 5/25/2020 at 11:24:50

Iowa lashed by violent winds
By The Associated Press
One man drowned in a wind-whopped lagoon at Mason City, a Cedar Rapids police officer was slightly injured and there was widespread property damage as winds gusting to as much as 80 miles an hour lashed Iowa Tuesday.
...Firemen in Mason City recovered the body of Donald R. Grotegut, 22, of Waukon, from a lagoon on the campus of Northern Iowa Area Community College Wednesday evening.
Authorities said he drowned about 4:15 p.m. while trying to swim across the lagoon, apparently on a bet. The lagoon, about 300 feet across and 15 feet deep, was churned into choppy waves by winds hitting gusts in excess of 60 mph.
A 17-foot aluminum canoe, brought to the scene by rescuers, was lifted by the wind and hurled through the air, hitting a bystander, Myrna Kolthoff, 20, of New Hampton. She was hospitalized with a broken leg....
Fairfield Ledger, 31 March 1982 P 12 C 1-4

Accepts a dare, drowns
WAUKON- A Waukon college student enrolled at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City drowned Tuesday after he tried to swim a 100-yard pond on a dare for 2 ½ cases of beer.
The victim was identified as Donald Grotegut, the son of Ralph and Audrey Grotegut of Waukon. Witnesses said Grotegut, a sophomore, got about halfway across the pond at 4 p.m. when he signaled to bystanders for help.
Efforts by the Mason City fire and rescue squads to locate the body, which was recovered at 7 p.m., were severely hampered by 70 mph winds and chilly waters.
Cedar Rapids Gazette, 31 Mar. 1982, P 4 C 3,4

Waukon- Donald R. Grotegut, 22, Friday, 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. Burial: Oakland Cemetery, Friends may call after 2 p.m. today at Martin's.
Cedar Rapids Gazette, 1 April 1982 P 4 C 1