With profound sadness, family members, friends, and members of the Wabasha, Minnesota, community are mourning the heartbreaking loss of Nicholas Loechler, 46, whose life ended following a tragic pontoon boat crash on Lake Pepin on July 11, 2026.
Nicholas was one of three Wabasha residents whose lives were tragically lost in the devastating boating accident that has left family, friends, and the entire community heartbroken. The incident unfolded around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, when the Pepin County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting that people were calling for help from the waters of Lake Pepin.
Emergency responders later located an overturned pontoon boat near the YMCA Camp on Deer Island. Three survivors were found clinging to the boat and were rescued. They told authorities that three additional people had been on board and were missing, leading to a large-scale search-and-rescue operation.
The search involved law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency agencies from Minnesota and Wisconsin, with crews using rescue boats, drones, helicopters, and specialized equipment to search the waters. Despite the determined efforts of first responders, Nicholas Loechler and the other missing boaters, Ashley Monson, 37, and Manuel De Angel-Sola, 52, were later found deceased.
According to Wabasha Mayor Brian Quinn, two of the victims were members of the local fire service family, making the loss especially painful for fellow responders and those who knew them.
Nicholas will be remembered for the life he lived, the memories he created, and the impact he had on the people around him. His passing has left a void that cannot be filled, but the love and memories shared with him will continue to provide comfort to those who knew and cherished him.
As his loved ones grieve this unimaginable loss, they are surrounded by the support and prayers of a community mourning alongside them. Though Nicholas’s life ended far too soon, his memory will continue to live on in the hearts of family, friends, and everyone whose life he touched.
May Nicholas Loechler rest in eternal peace. He will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and never forgotten.
