Drowning ruled cause of death for missing man

The death of a downstate man whose body was recovered from Lake Superior has been ruled a drowning by the Keweenaw County Medical Examiner.

Forty-eight-year-old Paul Francis Lempke of Eastpointe, Michigan had been camping with a friend at the Kauppi resort and campground in Sherman Township on October 3rd. He had reportedly gone for a walk along the resort’s break wall near the docks at that time. Lempke’s friend contacted the Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office the next morning as he had still not returned. Superior Search and Rescue and a DNR aircraft assisted in a search that lasted until 4:00 p.m. on October 4th, when Lempke’s body was found near a dock on Lake Superior.

The Keweenaw County Medical Examiner’s Office initial reports indicates that Lempke drowned just off the break wall. No foul play is suspected at this time.