Family of drowned Milford man set to benefit from event

A memorial canoe paddle and lunch will be held on Saturday, Oct. 1 to honor the memory of a Milford resident who drowned while trying to save a teenager from drowning near a dam along the Huron River.

The Doug Killingbeck Memorial Paddle Fund-raiser and Lunch will be held at Central Park, with shuttle buses from the park occurring between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Participants are then invited to rent a canoe from one of two sponsors — Heavner Canoe Rental, which will offer a one-hour leisurely downstream paddle; and Milford Village Canoe, which will offer a half-hour leisurely downstream paddle.

Coffee and donuts will be served from 9 to 11 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If there is inclement weather, lunch will be held at Christ Lutheran Church on General Motors Road.

Suggested donations are $10 for students, $40 for individuals, and $75 for families, with all proceeds going to support the Killingbeck family.

On May 21, 16-year-old John Przydatek of Harrison Township and a friend, also a 16-year-old male, were thrown from their canoe after it got caught up in the current near a Huron River dam and overturned.

Both teens were thrown into the river and Przydatek was sucked by the current into an area at the base of the dam.

Killingbeck, 48, heard cries for help from bystanders, got in his canoe and paddled to the area near the dam’s base.

He jumped into the water after locating Przydatek, but he didn’t come back up.

Both bodies were later recovered.

For more information on the event, contact Heavner Canoe Rental at 810-602-3108.

The event’s flyer can also be downloaded at heavnercanoe.com by clicking on the “Special Events” link.