WHITTEMORE, IOWA – Fireworks are dangerous, and an unsuspecting man holding a launcher tube while igniting other explosives in this remote Northern Iowa town lost his life during a celebration.
According to the Kossuth County Sheriff, on July 1, 2025, at about 9:10 PM, the Kossuth County Law Enforcement Center received a 911 call of a fireworks accident in Whittemore, Iowa at the corner of 5th Street and Kossuth Avenue. It was reported that a male subject was unconscious and had received injuries while shooting off fireworks.
Whittemore and Kossuth County EMS and the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office were paged and responded to the scene. Air Med 3 Helicopter from Mercy Hospital in Mason City was also paged to respond to Kossuth Regional in Algona.
Patrick F Prentice, age 33 of Whittemore, was transported to Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona, where he was pronounced dead. The accident occurred as a result of holding a launcher tube while lighting fireworks. The State Medical Examiner in Ankeny will be conducting an autopsy.
Whittemore EMS, Kossuth County EMS, and Air Med 3 all responded to the page. The Kossuth County Medical Examiners Office assisted the Sheriff’s Office in the investigation.
A celebration of life for Patrick Prentice is currently pending, according to Lentz Funeral Home.