Funeral Plans Announced for Conservation Officer Killed in the Line of Duty Monday

(KNSI) – Funeral plans for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources conservation officer killed in the line of duty have been announced.

The DNR says the funeral and visitation for 39-year-old Sarah Grell will be Friday at the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids Friday. Visitation is set for Friday morning, starting at 11:30 and going until her funeral begins at 1:00 p.m.

Grell, who lived in Cohasset, was killed on Monday morning while on duty in Itasca County. The Minnesota State Patrol says she was driving north on Itasca County Road 336 about 8:30 when a semi-truck hit her pickup on the driver’s side door near the intersection with County Road 57 in Lawrence Township.

Grell leaves behind her husband Gene, who also works for the DNR in the Forestry Division, and their three kids, William, who is 13, daughter Jordyn, who is four, and two-year-old Geno.

Her obituary says Grell had a love of the outdoors since she was little. Her mother worked for the DNR Fisheries Division, and her father, grandfather, and uncle also worked as conservation officers. She grew up in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2004 with a degree in criminal justice. She began working for the DNR in 2005.

A Go Fund Me page set up for Grell’s family has already raised $39,000 of its $50,000 goal.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has ordered flags around the state be lowered to half staff from sunrise to sunset Friday in honor of Grell.

A statement from Walz says, “Sarah Grell was an outstanding Conservation Officer, who was highly regarded and respected by her colleagues and her community, serving the people and natural resources of Minnesota with dignity and pride. The State of Minnesota recognizes Conservation Officer Grell for her dedicated service to, and sacrifice for, her fellow citizens with deep gratitude. Our hearts are with her family, friends, and the entire community.”

Grell is the 23rd conservation officer killed in the line of duty in the state.

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