Gregor J. Wardle - Body found in river IDed 2010

WARDLE

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 2/4/2017 at 18:40:23

Gregor J. Wardle - Body found in river IDed

The body found Tuesday in the Mississippi River has been identified as the man who jumped off the Julien Dubuque Bridge more than a year ago. The body of Gregor J. Wardle, 38, of Dubuque, was found floating in the river near Catfish Creek, south of Dubuque. "Of course this brings closure to our family," said Kelli Wardle, his widow. Gregor Wardle jumped off the Julien Dubuque Bridge in heavy morning traffic on April 20, 2009. The Iowa State Medical Examiner's Office identified the body Tuesday. Wardle was officially pronounced dead in July 2009. Memorial services were held for Wardle a month later. Son of Roger L. and Diane D. (Klein) Wardle, Wardle graduated from Wahlert High School in 1989. He attended Loras College for 2½ years, majoring in accounting. Wardle worked at McGraw-Hill as a return specialist. Before Wardle jumped, he sent a text message to a family member hinting at suicide. His car was discovered empty in the parking lot of the East Dubuque (Ill.) District Library, near the bridge. Wardle left a suicide note, though it didn't specify how he would end his life, according to court documents. After Wardle jumped, crews combed the water beneath the bridge for most of the day, using dragging tools and side-scan sonars, but didn't find the body. Crews later performed fly-overs of the river, with no success.