CHICAGO, IL / DELAVAN, WI — A summer trip meant for celebration turned tragic on July 5, 2025, as Ivan Dea Korkes, a 26-year-old logistics professional from Chicago, died in an accidental drowning at Delavan Lake in southern Wisconsin. The heartbreaking news was confirmed by Walworth County officials and family representatives on July 6.

Ivan had traveled to the lake for the Independence Day weekend with friends—seeking time to relax and enjoy nature, something he cherished deeply. But what began as a joyful outing ended in devastating loss, leaving friends, family, and colleagues in mourning.

A Life Rooted in Connection and Care

Those who knew Ivan speak of a man whose energy, kindness, and infectious curiosity left an imprint everywhere he went. Raised in Chicago and having spent time living in Texas, Ivan built bridges wherever life took him. He worked in the bustling logistics industry, where he earned a reputation for being adaptable, forward-thinking, and generous with his time.

“Ivan was one of those rare people who made work feel like family,” said a former coworker. “He always stayed late to help and always showed up with a joke or a kind word.”

But it was in his off-hours that Ivan’s adventurous spirit truly came to life. Whether it was organizing impromptu hiking trips, fishing at sunrise, or gathering friends around a fire pit, he brought people together through joy and spontaneity.

The Day Everything Changed

Around 2:30 p.m. on July 5, emergency services responded to reports of a possible drowning near a quieter cove of Delavan Lake known as Viewcrest. Witnesses said Ivan had entered the water to swim but never resurfaced.

A multi-agency response—including the Walworth County Dive Team, Delavan Police, and the Wisconsin DNR—mobilized quickly. After a tense search involving sonar, drones, and divers, Ivan’s body was recovered later that evening. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials have classified the drowning as a tragic accident and confirmed that no foul play is suspected.

Grief Ripples Through Communities

The news of Ivan’s death sent shockwaves through both the Chicago logistics community and the lakeside neighborhoods of Delavan. Online tributes poured in from coworkers, college friends, and neighbors—each recalling moments of laughter, kindness, and Ivan’s thoughtful, easygoing nature.

In Delavan, a small memorial has begun to take shape—flowers, candles, and handwritten notes placed by the water’s edge.

One note read: “You brought warmth to strangers. Your laughter made this summer brighter. Rest easy, Ivan.”

A Family’s Grief and a Legacy of Giving

Ivan is survived by his parents, siblings, and a large extended family, who described him as “a beacon of generosity, humor, and heart.” In their public statement, they asked for privacy as they grieve but encouraged donations to local water safety efforts in lieu of flowers.

“He loved lakes—he loved the calm, the beauty,” his mother wrote. “If his story can help prevent even one more drowning, then a piece of his spirit lives on.”

Plans are underway to launch the Ivan Korkes Memorial Lifesaving Fund, dedicated to improving lifeguard training and emergency equipment around public swimming areas in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Honoring a Life Lived Fully, If Briefly

A memorial service in Chicago is scheduled for late July, and Ivan’s friends are also organizing a lakeside tribute at Delavan later this summer—a quiet gathering of those he loved, by the waters he cherished.

Colleagues from the logistics world have also begun raising funds for the Ivan D. Korkes Fund for Logistics Innovation, aimed at supporting scholarships for underrepresented students in supply-chain management.

Though Ivan’s life was heartbreakingly short, the way he lived—genuinely, generously, and without pretense—has left a deep mark on everyone who knew him. His laughter, his curiosity, and his constant care for others are the threads of a legacy that will not fade.

In the words of one close friend: “Ivan made people feel like they mattered. And because of him, we’ll never take those small moments for granted again