Memorial fund set up for man who drowned in Lake Crescent

PORT ANGELES — A memorial fund has been set up for the family of Jesse Thanem, the concert musician and college student who drowned Monday afternoon in the Devil’s Punchbowl area of Lake Crescent.

Donations to the Jesse Thanem Memorial Fund can be made at Strait-View Credit Union, 220 S. Lincoln St.

Thanem’s body was located Monday afternoon by National Park Service scuba divers in about 55 feet of water.

He was reported missing by a friend at 12:45 p.m. Monday. The two had been swimming together for about 10 minutes.

When the friend could not find Thanem, he walked nearby trails looking for him.

Olympic National Park rangers responded and located Thanem’s body.

Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.

Thanem was pronounced dead at the scene at about 1:25 p.m., according to an Olympic National Park spokesperson.

Thanem was the son of Rick and Debi Thanem, who own The Violin Shop at 922 S. C St. in Port Angeles.

He was a 2004 graduate of Port Angeles High School and had been attending Peninsula College, where he was studying radiology.

Thanem had played cello for 11 years, including in the Port Angeles High School Orchestra, and spent a season playing with his father in the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra.

Memorial services have not been finalized.

Harper Ridgeview Funeral Chapel of Port Angeles is in charge of arrangements.

More in News

Christopher Thomsen, portraying Santa Claus, holds a corgi mix named Lizzie on Saturday at the Airport Garden Center in Port Angeles. All proceeds from the event were donated to the Peninsula Friends of Animals. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Santa Paws

Christopher Thomsen, portraying Santa Claus, holds a corgi mix named Lizzie on… Continue reading

Peninsula lawmakers await budget

Gov. Ferguson to release supplemental plan this month

Clallam County looks to pass deficit budget

Agency sees about 7 percent rise over 2025 in expenditures

Officer testifies bullet lodged in car’s pillar

Witness says she heard gunfire at Port Angeles park

A copper rockfish caught as part of a state Department of Fish and Wildlife study in 2017. The distended eyes resulted from a pressure change as the fish was pulled up from a depth of 250 feet. (David B. Williams)
Author to highlight history of Puget Sound

Talk at PT Library to cover naming, battles, tribes

Vern Frykholm, who has made more than 500 appearances as George Washington since 2012, visits with Dave Spencer. Frykholm and 10 members of the New Dungeness Chapter, NSDAR, visited with about 30 veterans on Nov. 8, just ahead of Veterans Day. (New Dungeness Chapter DAR)
New Dungeness DAR visits veterans at senior facilities

Members of the New Dungeness Chapter, National Society Daughters of… Continue reading

Festival of Trees contest.
Contest: Vote for your favorite tree online

Olympic Medical Center Foundation’s Festival of Trees event goes through Dec. 25

“Angel” Alleacya Boulia, 26, of St. Louis, Mo., was last seen shopping in Port Angeles on Nov. 17, National Park Service officials said. Her rented vehicle was located Sunday at the Sol Duc trailhead in Olympic National Park. (National Park Service)
National Park Service asks for help in locating missing woman

Rented vehicle located Sunday at Sol Duc trailhead

Kendra Russo of Found and Foraged Fibers in Anacortes holds a mirror as Jayne Johnson of Sequim tries on a skirt during a craft fair on Saturday in Uptown Port Townsend. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Mirror image

Kendra Russo of Found and Foraged Fibers in Anacortes holds a mirror… Continue reading

Flu cases rising on Peninsula

COVID-19, RSV low, health official says

Clallam board approves levy amounts for taxing districts

Board hears requests for federal funding, report on weed control

Jury selected in trial for attempted murder

Man allegedly shot car with 2 people inside