Overview

• Adam Zirbel, 48, of Plymouth was found deceased around 7:40 p.m. Monday in a wooded area in the Town of Kewaskum.
• He had been working in the New Fane Trail area earlier that day and did not return home, prompting a search request.
• Investigators verified a documented lightning strike in the area at about 10:15 a.m., determining it caused his death.
• His vehicle was located in Fond du Lac County, and search teams from Washington and Fond du Lac counties and the Kewaskum Fire Department coordinated the recovery.
• The DNR said Zirbel served 13 years, planted millions of trees, supported incident management teams, and mentored colleagues, as the National Weather Service reports about 20 U.S. lightning deaths each year.