Wausau man, Midwest Communications VP, dies in apparent accidental drowning

By Shereen Siewert

A 50-year-old Wausau man died Friday in what Washington County Sheriff’s officials have classified an accidental drowning.

The victim has been identified as Brett Lucht, vice president and market manager at Midwest Communications in Wausau.

At about 8 p.m. Friday the Washington County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a man who dove into Big Cedar Lake and had not surfaced.

Big Cedar Lake PRD boat patrol responded along with Sheriff’s deputies, and Wisconsin State Patrol. Allenton Fire Dept. and West Bend Intercept were also dispatched to the address, in the 5700 block of West Lake Dr., which is in the Town of West Bend.

Witnesses say Lucht dove off the end of a pier at Big Cedar Lake and did not surface.

Lucht was pulled from the water and lifesaving efforts were attempted on scene for nearly 45 minutes before he was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy is planned for Monday.

Lucht leaves behind a wife and three daughters, along with many colleagues and countless friends.