| Since the exact death date was not given, the date of the newspaper article was used.
Printed in Pilot-Tribune, August 27, 1962
IOWA MAN DROWNED AT DESOTO
COUNCIL BLUFFS MAN FIRST TO DROWN AT DESOTO BEND LAKE
John Reid, 24 years of age, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, drowned Sunday morning at the DeSoto Bend Lake, southeast of Blair.
Mr. Reid and three companions had been boating. They went ashore on the Nebraska side about two and a half miles from the launching site.
While the party was ashore, their boat drifted out into the lake. Mr. Reid attempted to swim to the boat to return it to shore. When Mr. Reid was about 25 yards from shore he called for help. It is believed he suffered from a cramp.
The drowning took place about 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
A skin diver, Melvin Bise, attempted to recover the body but failed to locate it. The body was recovered about 2:45 Sunday by dragging. Those in the dragging party were Sheriff Sam Strain of Harrison County, Jerry Jauron and Don Knauss.
The drowning was the first at DeSoto Bend Lake since it was opened May 1, 1961.
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