Flags fly at half-staff for Voyageurs National Park ranger who died in water rescue

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. — Flags flew at half-staff in Minnesota and national parks across the country Tuesday for a Voyageurs National Park ranger who died trying to rescue a family of three stranded on a lake by high waves.

Kevin Grossheim, 55, of Kabetogama, died Sunday respond to a call for help for a father and two sons who were stranded on an island in Lake Namakan after their boat broke down. Wind gusts of more than 40 miles per hour had produced waves of 5 to 6 feet on Sunday morning.

“One of the rangers who was there said he had never seen such wild conditions as they are now,” said St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay.

Grossheim reached them with his boat, but it overturned after he picked them up, the National Park Service said.

“The front nose dived, the boat listed and turned upside down,” Ramsay said. An initial report from the park that the ranger was towing the family’s boat proved inaccurate, he said.

The three family members were able to swim to shore, but Grossheim disappeared. His body was recovered that afternoon after a search of about three hours. A cause of death was not released.

The remote control Travellers, founded in 1975, it covers 550 square miles of lakes, forests and streams on Minnesota’s border with Canada. Namakan Lake is one of four major lakes in the park, which also has smaller lakes. Namakan is 16 miles long and at one point 7 miles wide (16 by 11 kilometers). The park is known for boating, camping and snowmobiling; its dark sky; And abundant wildlife, including wolves, bald eagles, moose and beavers.

Grossheim had served as a ranger there for 23 years and was an experienced boat operator familiar with navigating the lakes, the park service said.

“Kevin was loved by everyone and was always known for going above and beyond,” Park Superintendent Bob DeGross said in a statement.

National Park Service Deputy Director Frank Lands on Wednesday ordered American flags lowered in national parks until sunset in Grossheim’s honor. Gov. Tim Walz issued a similar order for state buildings in Minnesota, encouraging people, businesses and other organizations to lower their flags as well.

“Kevin Grossheim was a dedicated forest ranger and public servant known for his unwavering commitment to helping others,” Walz tweeted on Tuesday.