Memorial fund set up for man who drowned in Lake Crescent

PORT ANGELES — A memorial fund has been set up for the family of Jesse Thanem, the concert musician and college student who drowned Monday afternoon in the Devil’s Punchbowl area of Lake Crescent.

Donations to the Jesse Thanem Memorial Fund can be made at Strait-View Credit Union, 220 S. Lincoln St.

Thanem’s body was located Monday afternoon by National Park Service scuba divers in about 55 feet of water.

He was reported missing by a friend at 12:45 p.m. Monday. The two had been swimming together for about 10 minutes.

When the friend could not find Thanem, he walked nearby trails looking for him.

Olympic National Park rangers responded and located Thanem’s body.

Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.

Thanem was pronounced dead at the scene at about 1:25 p.m., according to an Olympic National Park spokesperson.

Thanem was the son of Rick and Debi Thanem, who own The Violin Shop at 922 S. C St. in Port Angeles.

He was a 2004 graduate of Port Angeles High School and had been attending Peninsula College, where he was studying radiology.

Thanem had played cello for 11 years, including in the Port Angeles High School Orchestra, and spent a season playing with his father in the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra.

Memorial services have not been finalized.

Harper Ridgeview Funeral Chapel of Port Angeles is in charge of arrangements.

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