Family in limbo, waiting for cause of O’Fallon contractor’s death in Kentucky Lake
The family of a prominent metro-east contractor still doesn’t know exactly what caused his death on July 17 in Kentucky Lake.
Charles “Chuck” Poettker, 69, of O’Fallon, had jumped into the water for a swim while boating with his wife, authorities reported at the time. His body was found after divers searched more than two hours.
“We don’t know if a drowning caused a cardiac arrest or a cardiac arrest caused a drowning,” son Keith Poettker said Thursday. “It’s like the chicken versus the egg, so to speak. We may never know. But there was a cardiac arrest involved. That was something that was shared with us.”
Chuck Poettker was founder and CEO of Poettker Construction Co., based in Breese, one of the largest construction companies in the metro-east.
A Kentucky state conservation officer predicted in July that it would take 10 weeks to get results from autopsy and toxicology reports due to a backlog at the Western Kentucky Medical Examiners Office, which handles testing for Trigg County, where Chuck Poettker died.
This week, the Trigg County Coroner’s Office reported that it may be four to six more weeks before it receives the reports that are needed to prepare Chuck Poettker’s death certificate.
“I wish they could get caught up because, honestly, it’s hindering me,” said Deputy Coroner Matthew Phillips. “I have families that are waiting for results.”
Backlog on autopsy reports
Keith Poettker said his family called almost every day for weeks, trying to obtain a death certificate for Chuck Poettker. They got the impression that the reporting backlog was related to COVID-19.
Dr. Bill Ralston, Kentucky’s chief medical examiner, couldn’t be reached for comment this week.
Chuck Poettker’s autopsy was performed July 18 at the Western Kentucky Regional Medical Examiners Office. A woman who answered the phone last month said most staff members were out sick.
“We’re kind of in desperate need of a death certificate, actually, in order to close out things on his end,” Keith Poettker said. “But there’s not much we can do.”
Poettker Construction has been operating in Breese for 41 years. It has about 200 employees and a second location in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Keith Poettker is based.
Keith Poettker, 44, replaced his father as CEO under a succession plan that the company developed in 2016. Brother Ryan is now president. Management also includes sister Kim Luitjohan, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and brother Kevin, director of business development.
“The only thing we can do is honor (our father’s) legacy by moving forward with the plan that he kind of created,” Keith Poettker said.
Respected in community
Chuck Poettker and his wife, Linda, were regulars at Kentucky Lake with their 47-foot Sea Boy Sedan Bridge.
The boat was anchored in the Sugar Bay area of Trigg County about 3 p.m. July 17, when Chuck Poettker jumped off the rear swim platform into the water and disappeared, according to a news release from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
The department launched a search after a friend called 911, Chief Communications Officer Kevin Kelly said at the time.
Keith Poettker posted an announcement on the Poettker Construction Facebook page, prompting hundreds of people to comment on Chuck Poettker’s kindness, generosity, positive attitude, integrity and success.
“It is with great sadness and the heaviest of heart that I announce the passing of my father and role model, Chuck Poettker,” the post read. “Under his outstanding leadership, Poettker Construction has built millions of quality relationships and buildings and has grown to be recognized as a premier construction firm and best place to work.”
The post credited Chuck Poettker with “fostering and maintaining a culture of respect, honesty, courtesy and teamwork.”
It also noted that Chuck Poettker served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He earned a bronze star for heroism in 1971, when his unit was ordered to rescue two door gunners and recover the bodies of the pilot and co-pilot of a downed helicopter in Laos.
Chuck Poettker began his career in 1972 as an apprentice carpenter and took night classes in construction management at Belleville Area College, now Southwestern Illinois College. He founded Poettker Construction in 1980.
