Roll of Honor
Mark H. Russell, Jr.
Incident
Warden Russell drowned after being involved in a boating accident while checking fishermen for licenses. Warden Russell was thrown from a motorized canoe on Pike Lake north of Cadott while out checking fishing licenses with another warden. They started the boat’s motor to move from one group of fishermen to another. The canoe lurched at an angle and both men were thrown into the water. Fishermen pulled the other warden from the water, but Warden Russell quickly sank. His body was recovered hours later. Impact with the water caused a dislocation of his right arm at the shoulder, leading to speculation the impact stunned him as well, preventing him from saving himself. Warden Russell had served the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for five years and was stationed out of Neillsville.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, mother and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-E310F8B6- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Mark. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Conservation Warden Russell gave the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Madison community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Conservation Warden Russell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Conservation Warden Mark H. Russell, Jr. is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In WI, 124 of 317 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 10 of 15 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Mark H. Russell, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Mark H. Russell, Jr. Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Mark H. Russell, Jr. is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are honored on badge.nw.
