CHICAGO, IL / DELAVAN, WI — A wave of grief has enveloped the Chicago logistics community and Wisconsin lake towns following the tragic death of Ivan Dea Korkes, 26, of Chicago, who drowned in Delavan Lake on the afternoon of July 5, 2025, according to local authorities and obituary reports published July 6. He died during a summer weekend trip with friends, a joyful getaway that ended in heartbreaking loss.
🎣 Enthusiastic Adventurer with a Generous Heart
Friends and family remember Ivan as lively, warm, and always ready to help. A logistics professional by trade, he worked in Chicago’s competitive supply-chain sector, where his colleagues praised him for adaptability, easy humor, and consistent reliability—qualities he carried into his personal life. During his time in Texas while living for a period, he built deep friendships and was remembered for his caring nature and upbeat spirit.
Away from work, Ivan was deeply connected to the outdoors—known among friends for camping trips, fishing outings, and spontaneous weekend plans. He approached life with generosity, often organizing group activities and quietly ensuring others felt included.
📅 The Day of the Accident
On July 5, Ivan and a group of friends were enjoying the Independence Day weekend at Delavan Lake, Wisconsin, a popular destination for boating and swimming. Authorities received a distress call at approximately 2:30 p.m., reporting a potential drowning in a less-developed embayment called Viewcrest.
Responding units—including the Delavan Police Department, Walworth County Dive Team, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources—launched a wide-ranging search. They used sonar, dive equipment, and drones throughout the evening. After several hours, divers recovered Ivan’s body. Medics confirmed he had died at the scene.
Police characterized the incident as a tragic accident, with no signs of foul play. An initial statement made public by a family friend emphasized that Ivan “was enjoying a day with friends” and that the loss is deeply incomprehensible.
🕊️ Community Reaction Across State Lines
Word of Ivan’s death reached Chicago swiftly, with colleagues, friends, and loved ones sharing condolences over social media and internal networks. Heartfelt blog posts describe him as “warm, adventurous, and kind to everyone he met.”
In Wisconsin, locals tied ribbons to the Delavan Lake memorial post, and community members shared stories across Facebook and regional forums. One post read: “His visit brought laughter to our summer—he will be remembered here, too.”
👨👩👦 Family Mourns a Young Man Taken Too Soon
Ivan is survived by his parents, siblings, and extended family in Chicago. A public notice stated their profound shock, praising his “generosity, warmth, and zest for life.” They asked for privacy but invited donations to water safety and lifeguard training funds instead of flowers—reflecting Ivan’s love for lakes and summer escapes.
🚑 Authorities Stress Water Safety
Local officials and rescuers emphasized the unpredictable nature of lake conditions. Delavan authorities issued reminders about swim zones, supervision, and the importance of buoyancy aids—even for skilled swimmers. This message has resonated particularly strongly in holiday destinations across Wisconsin.
🌿 Memorial and Legacy
A memorial service will take place in Chicago later this July, with details shared privately. Friends and family are also planning a small lakeside remembrance at Delavan Lake this summer. They hope to launch a “Ivan Korkes Memorial Lifesaving Fund” to support local boating safety institutions.
Colleagues have set up the Ivan D. Korkes Fund for Logistics Innovation, tied to scholarships for young people entering supply-chain management and molecular diagnostics, honoring the
path Ivan built during his career.
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