The families and friends of Keith Ebben and Jay Luniak are mourning today, remembering two friends they say lived life to the fullest and enjoyed a good laugh.
The two Appleton men died Saturday evening when their snowmobiles hit open water on Lake Winnebago.
Their bodies were recovered by divers from the Winnebago County Search and Rescue Team.
Lt. Todd Christie said Ebben’s body was recovered Monday afternoon, and Luniak’s was recovered Tuesday morning, both near a landmark known as Buoy 100 at the end of the Menasha Channel off Jefferson Park.
Winnebago County Coroner Barry Busby said autopsies were being performed Tuesday.
The two, both graduates of Appleton East High School, were last seen after they had dinner at a bar south of Neenah at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department and Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue did searches Sunday evening and Monday before a salvage company employee searching for a different snowmobile that had gone in the water discovered tracks from two snowmobiles off Jefferson Park.
The searches began after Ebben’s truck and snowmobile trailer were found Sunday in Kaukauna, and people at the bar where they had dinner said they had talked about snowmobiling on the lake.
Luniak’s family had last been together the weekend before Christmas, and they are gathering now for the funeral.
“He certainly lived life to the fullest and enjoyed every moment. I imagine that’s what he’s still doing,” his sister Rhonda Luniak said as she and her family were driving in from her home in Mason, Ohio.
Her sister Renee and brother Joe, and their parents Joe and Jolene, and Jay’s two nephews and four nieces would be talking about how Jay lived, and how he will be missed, Rhonda Luniak said.
“He was the kind of uncle that would always be game for playing with them and dressing up and acting silly and just having a good time with them at the water park or in the backyard. Everyone just loved being around Uncle Jay,” she said.
Luniak’s brother Joe was at Jefferson Park in Menasha as searchers looked for the bodies, and Rhonda said the family wants to express their appreciation to the firefighters and police officers, and the “incredible job being out there in the cold and risking their own lives. We just appreciate everything everyone has done.”
Jay owned a real estate and appraisal business, and told the family over the holidays that business was good enough that he was thinking of adding an employee.
Looking at old photos over the weekend, Rhonda Luniak saw the smile she will miss.
“Every one of them you can see that look on Jay’s face that brought smiles to everyone’s face,” she said.
“He didn’t always have a whole lot to say. He was a man of few words but he always had that well placed comment or reaction that could make us all laugh.”
Rhonda Luniak said she is hurting for Jay’s girlfriend of two years, Mallory Northam.
“She and Jay had a nice and warm relationship and I can’t imagine what she must be experiencing right now,” she said.
His friends started a Facebook page, Become a fan of Jay “Moolie” Luniak, to share memories and photos.
Ebben’s wife, Jennifer Miller Ebben, said in an e-mail that she and Ebben’s parents didn’t wish to comment.
It was subdued Tuesday at U.S. Oil in Combined Locks, where Ebben worked.
“There must be 35 people in this office and it’s quiet,” said Don Allen, the call center manager. “People aren’t talking. They are hurt.”
Ebben started at U.S. Oil in high school, advanced to a warehouse supervisor position, left for another job and returned, Allen said.
He had several jobs in the company and worked his way up, and was now in customer service in Auto Force, handling orders and answering questions for the parts wholesaler.
“He was a great worker,” Allen said. “Very dedicated. He worked a ton of hours. Just a good all-around guy.”
He also had a good sense of humor, Allen said.
“He loved the pranks, but he knew when to be serious.”
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