Joseph E. Kreager
Incident
Game Warden Joseph Kreager drowned while checking fishermen on Grand Lake, near Saginaw. His body and his boat were found five days after he was reported missing. Warden Kreager had served with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
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.
Game Warden Kreager gave the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden Kreager.
— 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.
Joseph is one of 84 officers lost to accidents in MN, 28.7% of the 293 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1922, 1 officer at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1922, 2 officers in MN were lost to accidents, the 6th heaviest of 60 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 3.
In 1922, 82 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 23rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1922, 101 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 18th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Joseph was 49. 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. Joseph had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 9.7 years.
Joseph was 49. 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. Joseph had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Joseph was 49. 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. Joseph had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 49. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 27.3% of these deaths at Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division; April holds the most, 27.3%. Fridays: 45.5%.
May holds 14.3% of these deaths in MN, more than any other month. Fridays: 26.2%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.
May holds 8.4% 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 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division has 18 officers remembered here, Joseph 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
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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