Robert Kienitz, 57, of Clifford, died in a privately owned pond on Barnes Road. Alcohol usage is thought to have played a factor in the death, though tests to show consumption levels are not yet in.

Robert Kienitz, 57, of Clifford, died in a privately owned pond on Barnes Road. Alcohol usage is thought to have played a factor in the death, though tests to show consumption levels are not yet in.

Kienitz, a veteran of both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps, never recovered from what he experienced while serving two tours of duty in Vietnam, family said.

"He suffered from (post-traumatic) stress disorder," said Kienitz' sister, Diane Gilmore, of Missouri. "He loved his country, and was proud he served, but he never got over what he saw over there."

The tragedy began as an outdoor party attended by Kienitz, five other adults friends and a few children. Kienitz' family was not in attendance. The party centered around a bonfire and a pond. Witnesses told Lapeer County Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Parks that every so often Kienitz would jump in the 63-feet by 80-feet pond fully clothed.

"He would have a few drinks and jump into the water," Parks said. "He'd swim out to the middle, then hold his breath and swim back to shore. He'd surprise the kids who were on shore. They were playing."

The game continued throughout the day, but Kienitz didn't surface again about 7:13 p.m.

"When he didn't come up, they all jumped into the water to search. They knew about where he went down, but they couldn't find him," Parks said. "The pond wasn't that big, but it was about 25 feet deep. They phoned 9-1-1."

Parks, deputies Terry Coulter, William Osborne, Jason Davis, Adam Fischhaber and Dan Wilkinson, Michigan State Police trooper Ted Stone, Lapeer County EMS, Burlington Township Fire and First Responders arrived at the scene.

The Lapeer County Sheriff's Department Dive Team members: Sgt. Harry Lutze, D/Sgt. Jeremy Herfert and deputies Dan Kohler, Dave Hill, Dave Ferguson, Mark Radenbaugh, Jeff Brooks, Larry Kardell, John Dennis, and Dale Harmon responded to search for the missing man. Dive team members are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and carry special beepers to remain in contact.

"Sgt. Lutze was already searching before the gear arrived," Herfert said. "They got him geared up and I was next in."

Team members used a fan method in their quest to find Kienitz.

"The pond was blue from the chemicals, but down deep there was zero visibility," Herfert said. "Most waters are that way, especially after the recent rains we had. It makes it murky. I held a gauge right out in front of me, and I couldn't read it."

With even a flashlight unable to penetrate the dark, team members felt their way about the bottom.

"Dan Kohler found him," Parks said. "He was about 25 feet down, and not entangled in vegetation. He was fully clothed, wearing blue jeans and the contents were still inside his pockets."

Though official reports are not yet in, a Monday afternoon autopsy indicated that Kienitz died of drowning.

Kienitz spent most of his life in his "adopted home town," of Clifford. He has three adult children and two grandchildren who reside in the Clifford area. Though separated from his wife Tina Kienitz, the two remained best friends. He recently returned from about a year of treatment in the Veteran's Hospital in Missouri, and was living with his mother Betty Kline, said Gilmore.

"He was the type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back," Gilmore said. "He made friends where ever he went."

Cremation has already taken place. A 10 a.m. visitation and 11 a.m. Thursday memorial service is planned at the Marsh Funeral Home in Marlette. Memorials may be given to the family. For information, call (989)635-3658.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com.