Authorities identify Rockford man who died in flood as Vietnam War veteran

Authorities have identified the man killed in floodwaters over the weekend as Dean Gulbranson, 76, of Rockford.

Preliminary autopsy results show Gulbranson drown, pending toxicology test results, according to information from the Winnebago County Coroner's office.

Gulbranson grew up on a farm near Spring Grove and later Harmony, Minnesota, as one of 10 siblings including seven brothers and three sisters.

He was Vietnam War veteran who enlisted in the U.S. Army and worked for years at the Belvidere Assembly Plant, said his sister, Harriet Duxbury, 69, of Rochester, Minnesota.

"This is crazy, just crazy how he went," Duxbury said.

Gulbranson was a passenger who became trapped about 10:15 p.m. Sunday in a Dodge Dakota pickup truck after floodwaters swept the truck into Keith Creek. The driver, who Duxbury said she believes was her brother's girlfriend, attempted to cross fast-moving flood waters while entering a parking lot in the 2600 block of Charles Street.

The driver was able to escape through a window as the truck became submerged. She was rescued by emergency personnel. Emergency crews were unable to save Gulbranson. He was pronounced dead at 1:05 a.m. Monday.

Rockford Police Department officers are continuing to investigate the incident.

Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at  (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey .

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Authorities identify Rockford man who died in flood as Vietnam War veteran