Submitted by: Dan Rich
June 27, 1953 – Aug. 21, 1955
South Bend Tribune 8/22/1955
Two-year old James Roemer, son of Mr. And Mrs. Joseph Roemer, 1426 E. Minor St., drowned Sunday afternoon in Magician Lake, near Dowagiac, Mich., after he stepped from the end of a pier into about five feet of water.
The boy and his parents were visiting the lake cottage of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. M. Edward Doran, 1305 Rockne Dr. Sheriff Kenneth McLeod of Cass County, Michigan, said hi deputies and a resuscitator crew of the Dowagiac Fire Department were unable to revive the boy who had been in the water for about five minutes.
The victim’s parents and the family had been swimming in front of the Doran cottage on Maple Island in the northern part of the lake. They went into the cottage about 5 o’clock to eat some ice cream and while they were there the child slipped away and apparently returned to the water.
When they missed the boy after a few minutes, the parents said they searched the cottage and finally combed the beach. Mrs. Roemer found her son in the water at the end of a 15-foot pier.
Dr. Joseph Mallo, Cass County Coroner ruled the death accidental.
James was born June 27, 1953 in South Bend. Also surviving are a brother, John Thomas and a sister, Ann Kathleen, and the paternal grandparents, Mr. And Mrs. William J. Roemer, 422 E. Angela.
Friends may call in the McGann Funeral Home after 7 p.m. today. Funeral services will be held in St. Joseph Catholic Church at 10:30 Tuesday. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery.