Carnegie Hero Justin William Schroepfer, a posthumous Carnegie Medal awardee, was honored on April 3, 2018, at U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy’s district office in Wausau, Wis.
Schroepfer, a 24-year-old accountant from Rhinelander, Wis., died attempting to save two 22-year-old women from drowning on June 11, 2016 in Lake Superior, Marquette, Mich.
After seeing the women struggling in rough current, Schroepfer entered 50-degree water and swam through large waves toward them, but all three were swept into deeper water. One woman and Schroepfer eventually submerged and drowned. Others rescued the other woman.
“We knew our whole lives he was a brave, brave guy. It had to be hard to do, we’re proud of him, we all wish he was standing here. It just wasn’t God’s will,” said Kevin Schroepfer, Justin Schroepfer’s father, in an online article.
Pictured, from left, are Schroepfer’s sister Kayla Ehrhardt; his parents, Connie and Kevin Schroepfer; and Duffy, who represents Wisconsin’s seventh district.
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