Richard Francis Gadbois Obituary – A man from Isle was found dead in Mille Lacs Lake the morning of Friday, Jan. 12. The man was found after a 911 call was placed to the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office about a truck and a body found in the lake near MSA Flagship Inn at 5357 Whistle Rd. in rural Isle. According to a report from the sheriff’s office, the call was received at approximately 10:52 a.m. that reported a truck had gone through the ice on the lake and a body could be seen nearby.
The 911 caller told Mille Lacs County Dispatch that he had located an area on the ice where a truck and gone through. The report from the sheriff’s office states that the 911 call had located the body of an adult male floating in the water and the caller was able to recover him and bring him back to shore. The subject found floating was wearing a flotation device. The subject was later identified as Richard Francis Gadbois, 80, of Isle. Gadbois was transported to the Mille Lacs Health System Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased, the sheriff’s office reported.
The Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by The Isle Fire Department and Mille Lacs Health System EMS. The report from the sheriff’s office went on to provide a reminder to the public about safety and ice conditions on local lakes “This is another reminder to the public that ice conditions are not safe for driving cars and trucks on right now,” the report stated. “The ice was approximately six inches thick where this tragic incident took place. The recommended guideline for clear ice is 13-17 inches for a truck. The ice on many lakes across the state is not good clear ice due to rains and warm temperatures.” The sheriff’s office then offered its condolences to the family of Gadbois. “Our hearts are praying go out to the family of Richard as they process this loss,” the report stated.