COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – At approximately 7:40 PM on June 9, the Iowa DNR was dispatched to the west side of Lake Manawa near the entrance to the West Lake Village for a man that had been brought to shore by an individual on a personal watercraft after he was found in the lake.
Through the investigation, it has been determined that Lawrence Wieneke, 54, of Omaha, had somehow fallen into the lake from a personal watercraft operated by his wife, Geralyn Wieneke, 59, of Omaha, prior to a good Samaritan spotting Lawrence and bringing him to shore.
Lawrence Wieneke was transported to a Council Bluffs hospital in critical condition, but is expected to survive. Investigators believe alcohol may have been involved with this incident and toxicology results are pending.
This is an on-going investigation by the Iowa DNR Law Enforcement Bureau and the DNR State Parks Bureau, with assistance from the Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue and Council Bluffs Police Department.