Funeral services are set for a Gurnee man, who was a father of six and grandfather to two, remembered as “the life of the party,” after he died in a boating incident on the Fox Lake near Antioch.
An autopsy performed on Larry Suchowski, 51, of Gurnee, showed he died from drowning, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
Fire department boats located and recovered Suchowski’s body on Fox Lake just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said.
Suchowski went missing after being ejected from a boat on the lake the day prior.
Divers, sonar equipment and boats from multiple fire departments throughout Lake and McHenry counties, as well as from Wisconsin, resumed their searches for Suchowski on Tuesday morning before finding his body in the afternoon.
The search first began after the Antioch Fire Protection District and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 5:30 p.m. last Monday to the area of Captain’s Quarters, 38283 North Bolton Place in unincorporated Antioch, for a water rescue call.
Emergency crews arrived and were informed that two people, including Suchowski, were reported to be in the water following a boat incident, according to Antioch Fire Chief Ian Kazian.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said that Suchowski and another man were in a boat taking it for a test drive on the Fox Lake.
The boat was traveling too fast when it took a turn, resulting in both men being ejected from the vessel, Covelli said.
One of the men was rescued early on by a civilian boat and brought to shore.
He was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry with non-life-threatening injuries, Kazian said.
Suchowski went under the water and never resurfaced, Covelli said.
Covelli said it did not appear that the boat struck anything but that the turn resulted in so much force that it threw them from the boat.
The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to bring additional fire departments from throughout Lake and McHenry counties, as well as from Wisconsin, to the scene with divers, sonar equipment and boats.
Neither of the men was wearing a life jacket and the boat involved was recovered.
In addition to the fire departments, the sheriff’s office and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police were actively searching for Suchowski. A drone was also being used.
Fire officials said they returned to the lake around 8 a.m. Tuesday to resume search efforts, before finding Suchowski later that afternoon.
Suchowski was a graduate of Grant Community High School and spent his life working as a tool and die maker and machinist.
“Larry had a personality that drew people in — he was the one everyone looked forward to seeing walk through the door. His quick wit, sense of humor, and way with words made every story unforgettable,” his obituary said.
“He was hilarious, loyal, hardworking, and always the life of the party, but what truly stood out was his kind heart. He was one of a kind, with a heart of gold that was inherited from his beloved mother. Larry was a blessing to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him,” his obituary said.
Suchowski was the father of three boys and three girls. He was also a grandfather to two.
“Larry found peace and joy in the things he loved most. He was an avid golfer, happiest with a club in his hand, enjoying a day on the course filled with laughter and friendly competition. He was also a man of faith, attending both New Hope Church and El Shaddai Church, where he found strength, community, and a deeper connection to God,” his obituary said.
A visitation is scheduled for Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at Ringa Funeral Home in Lake Villa followed by a funeral service starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday.