Cause of fatal Lakewood fire remains under investigation

Homeowner died, wife remains hospitalized
By: 
NEW Media Staff

A man died and his wife was severely burned in a house fire July 8 in the Town of Lakewood.

David Van Gheem, 78, died in the fire, and his wife, Sandi, remains hospitalized in Milwaukee after being found outside the burning structure at 15354 Big Bear Lane.

Oconto County Sheriff Todd Skarban said in a news release that the sheriff’s office emergency dispatch center was contacted at 6:33 a.m. July 8, and multiple fire departments responded.

A release from the Town of Lakewood Fire Department said its Engine 2511 was on scene within minutes and found the home fully engulfed with an unattached garage starting to catch fire. Lakewood/Townsend Ambulance transported Sandi Van Gheem from the scene, and David Van Gheem was recovered after the fire was brought under control around 9:30 a.m.

Units remained on the scene until about 12:15 p.m. An ongoing investigation was being conducted by the sheriff’s office and the Brown County Medical Examiner’s Office, Skarban said.

Also responding were fire departments from Lakewood, Townsend, Doty, Mountain, Riverview, Crooked Lake and Suring, as well as the Lakewood Townsend Ambulance, Mountain Ambulance, County Rescue and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation-Arson Bureau.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they deal with the loss of a loved one,” Skarban said.

An obituary posted July 12 said funeral and service arrangements were pending at Pfotenhauer Funeral Home of Green Bay.