In Memory
John Francis Corban
Aug 23, 1920 - May 8, 1959
Skin Diver Drowns in Indian Lake
DOWAGIAC - The body of a former South Bend resident was recovered from the waters of Indian Lake here at 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, about four hours after he foundered while skin diving. Cass County Coroner William Kurdelmeyer ruled that John Corban, 38, Rt. 1, Dowagiac, died of accidental drowning.
Sheriff Kenneth McLeod, who was manning the boat that recovered the body, said Corban was skin diving with his brother, Donald Corban, of 927 S. 23rd St., South Bend. McLeod said the victim was a novice" skin diver and was wearing a "wet" suit and a full face mask at the time. The sheriff said both John and Donald had surfaced when Donald saw John motioning his intention of going ashore. Moments later he slipped beneath the surface.
The brother doffed his air tanks and dove after Corban, McLeod said, but could not locate him. He surfaced and obtained help from three unidentified fisherman who also probed the waters in vain for Corban. McLeod said he was called and started dragging operations at 4:20 p.m. and continued the dragging until 5:45 p.m. when Deputy Durward Sanders was ordered to dive for the body.
Deputies Jack Green and Grady Detion scanned the lake from a small plane, but both attempts at locating the body were fruitless. The sheriff resumed dragging at 7 p.m. and snagged the body one hour and 10 minutes later.
McLeod said it appeared that Corban had taken water inside his mask and had panicked. He said an experienced diver, on taking water inside the mask, will loosen the lower part of the mask and surface slowly.
Corban was born in Terre Haute Aug. 23, 1920, and had lived in South 31 years, moving to Dowagiac four years ago. He was employed by the Studebaker-Packard Corp.
In 1941 in South Bend he married Miss Lorraine Frankinberger.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick T. Corban of South Bend; his widow, Lorraine; four sons, Michael, Patrick, Thomas and James; a daughter, Patricia, all at home; three brothers, Edward J. and Donald P. both of South Bend, and Frederick R. of Bellwood, Ill., and a sister, Mrs. Mary Kreps of South Bend.
Friends may call after 7 p.m. today in the Hollis Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 9 a.m. Friday in St. Anthony's Catholic Church with Rev. Jerome R. Bonk, pastor, officiating and buriwill be in Highland Cemetery.
Corban was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and member of the Civil Air Patrol in South Bend
Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com
07/06/2025 EJS
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