KALKASKA — A family is mourning two loved ones after three people fell through the ice on Island Lake on Dec. 6 and only one survived.
According to the surviving teen, a friend of 13-year-old James Brake, the group fell into the water after the ice continued to crack.
His older brother, 22-year-old Johnathan, dove in to try to save him. The teen managed to climb out before hypothermia set in.
Johnathan is survived by two children. He had planned to tell his parents at Christmas that a third child is expected in June.
His parents said he was a hero who would have done anything to save his brother.
“I was proud of them,” said their father, William Brake. “I’m still proud of them. I’m damn proud of John; he wasn’t going to leave his brother behind.”
The family said the day began like any other Saturday.
“After dinner, they were like, hey, we’re going to go in and just up the backyard, goof around in the snow, do dumb stuff in the snow. That was his last word to me,” William said. “And my 22-year-old son was like, I’m going to go out there with them.”
The deaths have shaken the Kalkaska community, where the family was known through their involvement in local sports, especially hockey.
“Everybody knows the boys,” William said.
“They were always good to people,” said their mother, Angela Brake.
“They made so many friends throughout the community,” William said.
James is being remembered as a kind-hearted music fan.
“He was a firecracker,” Angela said.
“Yeah, super super outgoing, very caring,” William said. “(He) got more enjoyment from being able to be the helping hand versus the hand that needed help.”
“He really had the biggest heart; he was always the one who said, ‘Mom, it’s going to be ok,’” Angela said. “I’m going to miss that.”
Johnathan is being remembered as a caring father of two.
“He loved them more than anything in this world, man. He was a really great dad, and he’ll be expecting a new baby in June,” Angela said. “Yeah, he was very excited about that. And he loved music. He was just kind of starting a career.”
“He had three passions: music, dirtbikes and cooking,” William said.
The Brakes said both brothers were experienced around ice from fishing and backyard hockey and knew how to test ice safely.
“They knew they shouldn’t be out that far,” Angela said. “I don’t know if maybe they just wandered further than they thought they did. They weren’t supposed to be out there. They were supposed to be right here in the backyard.”
The parents are urging others to talk with their children early and often about ice safety.
“I would say my biggest regret is that, at Jonathan’s age at 22 and even at James’ age at 13, growing up here and knowing the lake rules. Even so, I should have, every time, I should have told him, ‘Stay off the ice,’” William said. “I did it the whole time they were growing up as little bitty guys, ‘stay off the ice’.”
A funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Kalkaska Unified Ministries for Christ. The public is welcome.
“The boys know more people than I could list,” William said. “They are welcome to come; they deserve it.”
Friends have organized a GoFundMe to support the Brake family; those interested can donate here.