Rudy Wozney Missing?Boat Accident

I heard that Rudy Wozney is missing. Has anyone heard this. Rudy is from Arcadia WI. His boat was found down by Onalaska spinning in circles. HE is an excellent bass guy and knows the river well.

It was all over the news last night. Unfortunetly, they found his body yesterday afternoon. Apparently they found his boat Friday, the trolling motor still running, but he was no where to be found.

They had an interview with his wife and kids last night on the Channel 19 news. Very very sad.

They are doing an autopsy today, but there is no evidence of foul play.

I know the his Alma family real well. Even guys that spend hundreds of hours a year on the water can be taken by the mighty Mississippi. All I can say is never get to comfortable with the river. I know I am bad at that. Sure does make a person think. Bless his family.

Another thing to keep in mind, is to try to take someone with you in case of an accident. I will fish by myself alot, but I feel safer fishing with another person in the boat. That extra person just may save my life someday.

Wow! I hadn’t heard anything about it. He was a great guy and outfished a ton of boaters as a co-angler in the BFL. God bless his family my prayers are with them. Just yesterday when I was fishing I came inches from going in when I lifted my trolling motor over some rocks and ran it to the side. I very easily could have hit my head if I had gone in. You never know what can happen out there.

I don’t know who Mr. Wozney was but it saddens me for his family. This seems to happen at least once a year. How easy it is for me and I am sure many others to forget how much we must respect the river and lakes we fish. All it takes is one simple mis-step and we could be looking at the bottom of our boats from the fishes perspective.
WOW, just thinking about my kids this really hits home!
Be carful and aware. Life jackets? I will have to keep them handier than ever.

Good point Fleck about the partner.

My first thought when I heard this was he had a heart attack and fell overboard. With a partner and a cell phone, you would have a chance to save someone in that situation.

My thoughts go out to his family.

I have to chime in with Haywood on this one. I’ve never had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Wozney but it sounds like he was a pretty good guy, and will no doubt be missed by those who knew him.

When I became a father, the “doing-dares” of adventure really began to escape me……….and it seems I’m more aware now, than ever before, the real fragility of life. Almost as if to be in full realization, the rarity and true blessing of breathing and living. 10 years ago, I would have recognized the tragedy, but unable to truly grasp the impact or the value of that life.

So often I wonder how some people can do what they do, but yet………….in that pondering I can find myself capable of the same inconsideration within a decade of this present day. I admit this, bordering on shame and embarrassment, but while ignorance isn’t an acceptible excuse, it’s the reality of my shallow perceptions. I now hunger for the education of materials and living examples that can expand improvement, because everything I wish to change must start from within.

We are faced with tragic issues from time to time here on the board and each time…………I can feel the pain of how I would feel if it were attached to me. I too, need to begin wearing the life jacket more than I do. Lately, I seldom fish alone but I attribute that to all the great people I’ve become acquainted with here in the EFN community. I’m usually with one of them or a family member.

On the flipside, I think if we think too hard, we could scare ourselves out of ever leaving the house, which isn’t good, so I don’t mean to convey that by any means, but anytime we lose a fellow angler, competitor, friend, or relative, it is no less a tragedy and my sincerest prayers go out to all of us still here to live and learn from what is sometimes, the most illogical and mysterious of events, the very best we are able to.

Sorry so long winded (again!)………..but because life is special to me, that includes everyone here…………and I just wanted to share that.

May God bless us all and shed mercy on the Wozney family.

Wow.
My Mom called me and asked me if I had heard about it. I hadn’t until now. I grew up very close to Arcadia. The Wozney name is very common in that neck of the woods.

My family and I live in West Bend, WI which is good three .5 hrs from LaX, and we heard about it on the news on the radio!

This is my first year as a boater, and my buddy Rod was helping me out with a few areas; of one area he said, “nothing against you, OnTheWater, but this is your first year. You get up in here and make a mistake, you’ll die.” I didn’t go to that spot.

I will pray for Rudy and his family.

Thanks, and I’ll see some of you this weekend. God bless all of you and may he keep us all safe.

OnTheWater

My prayers and thoughts go out to Rudy’s family. Although I only knew Rudy through fishing the BFL I followed his success and admired his ability. This is a reminder on how precious life is and that it is important to keep in focus on what is really important. Work hard and play hard. Enjoy every moment.
(Sigh)
Winneshiek

Thought the board might be interested in what the Tribune had to say…

By the Tribune staff

The death of an Arcadia man whose body was found in Lake Onalaska Sunday was ruled an accidental drowning, according to a news release from the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Department and the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Rudolph “Rudy” Wozney, 48, had “no medical problems whatsoever,” said Medical Examiner John Steers, and the details leading to his death are unknown other than it was an accidental drowning.

Steers said Wozney did have a bruise on the top of his head, but it did not appear related to the cause of Wozney’s death.

Wozney was practicing for an fishing tournament. His unmanned boat – trolling motor running – was found about 5:30 p.m. Friday near French Island. His body was found floating about 300 yards from where his boat had been recovered about 12:40 p.m. Sunday.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. today at the Holy Family Parish in Arcadia. Visitation will be from 8 to 10:30 a.m. today at the Wozney Funeral Home in Arcadia.

Guys,

I would just like to say the the sport has lost a wonderful man and we could all learn alot from the way that rudy conducted himself as lond as i knew him. We lost a friend but his family must be just devestated by this. They lost a friend, a husband, and a father. My heart goes out to his family and the only thing I can say is that God must have needed some damn good help.

Joe Hall

I’m sorry to hear of Rudy’s passing, and my condolences to his family and friends.

According to reports his boat was found with the trolling motor running in circles. Did he have a Minn Kota Autopilot on his boat? These motors are well known for suddenly swinging in tight circles and it would be possible that is what caused this accident.