The family of a missing man in Racine is asking for the public’s help finding 68-year-old Jeffrey Cluey whom they believe went missing on Lake Michigan.
Tim Cluey said the family hasn’t heard from his older brother in two weeks, when a witness said they saw him paddle out in a canoe just before sunset on June 6th.
“It’s been rough. It’s just you don’t know what’s going on,” Tim Cluey said. “Is he floated across the lake and unconscious someplace? Is he doing this? Is he doing that?”
After filing a report with the Racine Police Department, Tim said authorities found Jeff’s car near the Pershing Boat Launch, 6 days after he was last seen.
The family then put up flyers in the area and online. That’s when the witness came forward.
“We looked into the garage where he lives and where he stores his canoe and it’s not there either,” Tim said. “So, it seemed to be very credible that he went out on the lake.”
Tim said he also learned that his brother had a habit of visiting the boat launch when he couldn’t sleep, either to watch the waves or if he thought the water was calm enough, take the canoe out.
“He never talked to me about it. I would have advised against it,” Tim said. “I’m a firm believer that you have to respect Mother Nature and when you go out onto a body of water like this you need to take extra precautions and going out in a canoe at night is not one of those precautions.”
Tim said the news of Jeff’s disappearance, has been tough on the family, especially for their elderly parents who the 68-year-old visited daily.
He said it was Jeff who made it possible for the 90-year-olds to live independently because he would regularly help out around the house.
“This is tearing my parents apart,” Tim said. “They shouldn’t be having to go through this, at all.”
RPD officials said Jeff’s case does not meet the qualifications of a Missing Person. However, an attempt to locate and BOLO (be on the lookout) for Cluey has been given in Racine and Kenosha Counties.
Tim said he’s planning on doing his own search Friday morning with a friend and he’s asking others in the area to keep an eye out for any sign of the missing man.
“I just want brother back one way or another but would prefer him to be alive,” Tim said. “I can take a little banged up but I would prefer him alive.”
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