A drowning victim pulled from Lake Leelanau Wednesday night has been identified as 56-year-old John Calvin Gleason of Lake Ann. Gleason was the lead pastor at Inland Baptist Church in Interlochen.

Emergency responders convened on the west side of Lake Leelanau near Kelenske Point shortly after 3:30pm Wednesday after Gleason reportedly disappeared under the water and did not resurface. Gleason and three others had been swimming on a sandbar with their boat anchored nearby when the boat began to drag its anchor and drift away. As the group swam to catch up to the boat - with waves picking up due to an approaching storm - Gleason began to struggle in the water and slipped under the surface. He was not seen again. A regional dive team worked in the area for nearly four hours before recovering his body in 12-15 feet of water at 7:33pm. An autopsy was scheduled in Kalamazoo Thursday to rule out any medical-related issues that may have contributed to Gleason's death.

According to the Inland Baptist Church website, Gleason joined the church staff in April 2003 and had pastored three northern Michigan churches since 1981. He preached at the Grand Traverse County Jail and counted among his hobbies music, tech toys and cars and motorcycles, including his 1989 Honda Pacific Coast. Gleason is survived by his wife Laura - an EMT with the Almira Township Fire & EMS Department - and their four children, Courtney, Ashley, Anton and Chelsey. Funeral arrangements are still pending.

Pictured: John and Laura Gleason.