Patrick R. Serzynski, 60, of Lake Villa, went missing on October 30 while hunting on Fourth Lake in unincorporated Lake Villa and was found dead on Saturday. | Provided Photo

The family of a 60-year-old man, who went missing while hunting on Fourth Lake before being found dead, says the man had just celebrated his 30th wedding anniversary and was recently retired.

Preliminary autopsy results showed Patrick R. Serzynski, 60, of Lake Villa, died as a result of drowning, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.

Serzynski was reported missing around 1:30 p.m. on October 30.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said sheriff’s deputies learned Serzynski was hunting on Fourth Lake in unincorporated Lake Villa.

Serzynski had not been heard from since 10 a.m. that day.

Covelli said the sheriff’s office located the man’s boat and property at his duck blind.

Covelli said crews were searching the marshy area surrounding the lake and the lake itself.

Fire and police department personnel respond on October 30, 2023, to the area of North Corona Drive and West Lakeview Avenue in unincorporated Lake Villa after a hunter went missing on Fourth Lake. | Photo: Joe Shuman/J. Shuman Photography (2023)

The Lake Villa Fire Protection District and numerous other fire departments were called to assist in the water search.

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The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm level to bring sonar technicians to the lake.

Fire department personnel were seen staged near Fourth Lake Hunt Club, 20703 West Lakeview Avenue in unincorporated Lake Villa, which is on the northwest side of Fourth Lake.

Emergency crews searched for hours that day for Serzynski before calling off searches around 6:30 p.m.

Crews continued searches throughout last week with no results.

The shallowness along with the extremely weedy and murky bottom reportedly made the searches difficult.

Covelli said a body was located in Fourth Lake approximately 300 yards from the shoreline after search efforts resumed Saturday morning.

Fire and police department personnel respond on October 31, 2023, to the area of North Corona Drive and West Lakeview Avenue in unincorporated Lake Villa to search for Patrick R. Serzynski, 60, of Lake Villa, who went missing the day prior on Fourth Lake. | Photo: Remi Merrill

Search crews removed the body and the Lake County Coroner’s Office responded.

Banek said Monday that the body was identified to be Serzynski. Covelli said foul play is not suspected.

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The sheriff’s office said last week it was likely Serzynski fell off his boat into the water.

An obituary for Serzynski said he died “doing one of the things he loved most.”

Serzynski and his wife celebrated 30 years of marriage in September. “They had endless adventures, mishaps and cherished times.”

“Pat’s greatest joy was his son Patrick and being a dad, from teaching him how to fish and hunt, being his floor hockey coach, working alongside each other on cars, and too many more precious moments to list,” his obituary said.

Serzynski worked for 38 years as an electrician before retiring as the Local Union 150 business manager in 2022.