Search for missing boater continues

By BRIAN WALKER

Hagadone News Network

COEUR d’ALENE — The search for a 68-year-old Kootenai County man who reportedly fell into Lake Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday morning continued Wednesday and into the night with no result.

The search for Larry D. Isenberg in the area of Powderhorn Bay is expected to continue today, weather permitting, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dennis Stinebaugh said.

According to the KCSO, Laurcene "Lori" Isenberg called 911 at 10:25 a.m. Tuesday stating that her husband had fallen into the lake while repairing a motor on the boat they were in. She spent "some time" to locate Larry on her own without success before responders arrived, according to the KCSO.

Stinebaugh declined to be more specific on the approximate amount of time she searched.

Members of Eastside Fire District were the first to arrive in the area at 10:55 a.m. KCSO dive team members arrived shortly thereafter.

A sonar team from the KCSO spent about three and a half hours on Tuesday searching for Isenberg. Another 10 hours or so was expected to be spent on Wednesday, until at least 9 p.m.

"All indications point to this as being a terrible tragedy," Sheriff Ben Wolfinger said.

As the search continued Wednesday, Lori Isenberg posted the following on social media to Larry’s friends: "As you may have heard, we lost our amazing husband, father, brother, grandpa and friend yesterday from an accident while boating.

"Though we are going to miss him dearly, and our lives will never be the same, we are comforted to know he went quickly and had recently commented that he had ‘just finished his bucket list’ watching the Falcon Heavy (rocket) launch. We are certain his spirit is up driving the Tesla Roadster launched with the Falcon Heavy."

Isenberg, a forest-industry veteran, is retired, according to his Facebook page. He is a former project manager for Fire Smart, a program offered by Kootenai County’s Office of Emergency Management that helps property owners protect their homes and businesses from wildfire.

The Idaho Land Conservation Assistance Network, a directory of conservation resources, lists Isenberg as a consultant on land, prescribed burning and forestry.

Its website states that Isenberg has a bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of Idaho and has 36 years of experience in the forestry business, ranging from field forester to management in a timber company. Recent experience included hazardous fuels treatment, timber taxation and land-use planning.

Sandy Emerson said he served on the chamber of commerce’s Natural Resources Committee with Isenberg. Emerson, a land appraiser, also interacted with Isenberg when Isenberg was a manager for Crown Pacific and led the effort to establish trails through The Nature Conservancy in Cougar Bay.

"He was real engaging and super enthusiastic," Emerson said. "He was a go-getter about whatever he was doing."

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, said she met Larry when she started working with the timber industry in 1989.

"Larry communicated the benefits of proper forest management and worked as a forester for the major sawmills in our area for most of his career," she said.

Wolfinger said he formerly volunteered with Isenberg on the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Committee.

"He’s an intelligent, jovial guy," Wolfinger said.

Stinebaugh said the temperature of the lake is 38 degrees — cold enough for hypothermia to set in.

"We always encourage people to wear a floatation device," he said. "At 38 degrees, you may not last long."

However, the specific cause of his disappearance is still being investigated.

"He could’ve had a medical condition, etc.," Stinebaugh said.

Stinebaugh said Lori has been interviewed as part of the investigation. However, more details on what apparently transpired on the lake are not being released due to the ongoing investigation. He said Lori was visibly distraught when responders arrived.

Stinebaugh said that as part of the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office has the boat the Isenbergs were in.

KCSO Deputy Jeff Howard, who is on the sonar team, said the search has been in the area between Powderhorn Bay and East Point on the southeast portion of the lake.