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Reasons for deaths of Whitewater couple remain a mystery

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WHITEWATER TOWNSHIP — Autopsies were completed Monday on the elderly couple whose bodies were found floating Saturday in Whitewater Lake, Coroner John Griebel said.

Rulings on what caused the deaths of Birger Juell, 93, and Anne Juell, 77, are pending until the results of toxicology and "other test" are returned to the Walworth County Coroner's Office, Griebel said.

Sheriff David Graves said Monday that his office was continuing to investigate how the married couple of 38 years made their way into the lake. They lived at N378 Chapel Drive.

Anne's son, Mark Norris, told the Gazette that the couple was found in swimsuits.

Norris speculated that the couple was swimming when one got into trouble and the other tried to help.

Fishermen found the bodies Saturday. Norris said he believes the couple went for a swim on Friday when the weather was warm.

A neighbor said she did not see lights on at the Juell home Friday evening.

The Juells have close associations with water. Both were avid recreational sailors. In his early years, Birger spent time with his father, a ship captain, and sailed at least seven times around the world, Norris said. Birger began a flooring business in Chicago in 1946.

Anne was known for participating in annual Chicago-to-Mackinac Island sailing races, her first being in 1955. Her last was in 2008.

Anne was the first woman inducted into the Island Goats Sailing Society for sailing in 25 races to the island.