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Eugene Herman Wynn Jr.
Incident
Conservation Officer Eugene Wynn drowned in Cross Lake after being thrown from a boat at approximately 7:45 pm.
He and a Pine County sheriff's deputy were responding to a report of a possible body floating in the lake. They had just left the boat launch when they were both thrown out of the boat into the frigid waters. Deputies on the shore attempted to reach them in a rowboat but Officer Wynn slipped below the surface and did not resurface. They were able to rescue the deputy, who was treated at a local hospital.
Officer Wynn, badge number 445 and station number K297, had served with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for 18 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Conservation Officer Wynn gave the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Conservation Officer Wynn.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division has lost 18 officers; 11 of them lost to accidents.
Eugene is one of 84 officers lost to accidents in MN, 28.7% of the 293 remembered there.
Eugene is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Eugene is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2019, 1 officer at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 2019, 1 officer in MN was lost to accidents, the 20th heaviest of 60 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 3.
In 2019, 45 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 103rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 2019, 46 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 110th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Eugene was 43. Of the 11 lost to accidents at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division whose age is recorded, half were between 40 and 49.5; the middle age was 43. Eugene had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 9.7 years.
Eugene was 43. Of the 84 lost to accidents in MN whose age is recorded, half were between 32.8 and 53; the middle age was 41.5. Eugene had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Eugene was 43. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Eugene had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Eugene was 43. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Eugene had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 27.3% of these deaths at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division, more than any other month. Fridays: 45.5%.
April holds 8.3% of these deaths in MN; May holds the most, 14.3%. Fridays: 26.2%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 15.1%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 61.1% of all 18 deaths at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28.7% of all 293 deaths in MN, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division has 18 officers remembered here, Eugene among them.
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Charles Wetsel Oct 1, 1897
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August Olson Mar 19, 1922
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Joseph E. Kreager
May 26, 1922
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Frank J. Appel
May 8, 1925
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Joseph Twaddle
Apr 25, 1930
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Norman D. Fairbanks
May 3, 1930
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John Linklater
Jul 8, 1933
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Olaf Pearson Lofquist
Jan 4, 1936
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Dudley Philip Brady
Jul 12, 1940
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Melvin A. Holt
Jul 12, 1940
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Marcus E. Whipps
Jul 12, 1940
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Charles V. Masoner
Mar 22, 1941
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Ronald E. Shager
Feb 22, 1967
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Gilmer Fred Keeler
Apr 21, 1968
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Russell John Nelson
Sep 28, 1975
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Grant Scott Coyour
Jun 11, 1999
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Eugene Herman Wynn, Jr.
Apr 19, 2019
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Sarah Ann Grell
May 24, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
