Drowns on Picnic Outing

Robert Walsh Was To Have Married Marlene Marsh of Herman

Tragedy in the form of a drowning cast its pall over a holiday picnic group Sunday composed mainly of Blair and Herman young people.

Robert Walsh, 27, an electrician’s helper from Columbus, drowned Sunday afternoon at Victory Beach, a state lake west of Fremont. His fiancée Marlene Marsh of Herman, looked on helplessly from the shore.

Walsh and Miss Marsh were to have been married Sunday, July 19.

In the group at the lake were Mr. Walsh of Columbus, Miss Marsh of Herman; Miss Marsh’s brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Don Husk of Blair, also Mr. and Mrs. Richard Seaman, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Donaldson, Leland Gilbert and Mrs. Lila Mae Swingholm, all of Blair. The men decided to swim east across the long narrow neck of water on the west edge of U. P. Lake. All but Walsh had reached the opposite bank when they heard him call for help. They plunged back into the lake and attempted to save him, but he slipped from their grasp and disappeared.

The Fremont Rescue Squad recovered the body about 15 minutes after the incident, but efforts to revive the young man failed. He was pronounced dead at 3:15 p.m.

Note: Since the actual death date was not given, the news article date was used.