DNR dedication honors Neustrom

Cohasset, Minn. — This Friday, Nov. 6, the DNR will honor the memory of late state angler and guide Tom Neustrom by dedicating the Tioga Public Water Access on Lake Pokegama in his name.

The dedication happens at 11 a.m. at the Tioga Public Water Access site on Tioga Beach Road in Cohasset. The event will include a short program and dedication to Neustrom. Everyone is invited to attend and pay their respects.

The dedication was planned collectively by the DNR and members of MN-FISH in recognition of Neustrom’s unique contributions to the state.

“This is a little bit of a unique kind of dedication. We don’t typically dedicate our public water access sites with people’s names,” said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen.

Strommen added that dedicating a public water access site in someone’s name isn’t something the DNR does regularly. But the combination of Neustrom’s contributions and the organizations he promoted made it fitting to honor his memory.

Strommen said one of Neustrom’s favorite words was “we.” She said he never stood on the sidelines of issues and was always ready to roll up his sleeves and work. As she got to know him over the years, she said Neustrom saw himself as someone who needed and wanted to give back to the people around him.

“He cared about the people who were taking care of the resources as well. You can ask anybody who knew him, and he would not only call and say, ‘How’s the work going?’ He would also ask, ‘How are you doing,’” Strommen said.

Strommen thanked the Neustrom family, who will attend the dedication, for sharing him with Minnesota and helping him shape the state’s natural resources.

Neustrom died in his sleep at age 77 in July, but his impact on Minnesota communities left lasting memories for those who knew him.

In April 2005, he retired from the Itasca Sheriff’s Office after 26 years of service, leaving with the title of investigation supervisor. Though he helped many in that role, he was also known for his angling passion.

For more than four decades, Minnesota residents could rely on Neustrom’s guiding expertise to lead them on successful outings. He also became one of the Grand Rapids area’s top walleye and crappie anglers.

His angling experience earned him recognition, and Neustrom was inducted into the National Freshwater Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame in 2015. His passion also led him to serve on several advisory committees that helped steer the sport of fishing.

These included the Minnesota DNR fishing roundtable, the State Walleye Advisory Committee and Mille Lacs Advisory Committee. Through his experience and advocacy, Neustrom also became one of the founding members of MN-FISH.

Neustrom also helped shaped outdoors media through his work in broadcasting and writing. He contributed to Outdoor News, Lindner Media Productions and In-Fisherman television. Beginning in 1992, he also hosted “Guides Corner” on KMFY-FM.

Retired Fisheries Section Manager Brad Parsons described Neustrom as a weaver who helped bring people together to find solutions to fishing-related issues. Through his guiding, advocacy and advisory work, Neustrom helped move the sport of fishing forward throughout Minnesota.

“This particular site is just newly renovated and improved as part of our Get Out More initiative,” Strommen said. “Those improvement dollars for public water and fishing access, was something Tom personally advocated for. We see it as really fitting, and I think that’s how the family sees it, is that it will be a way for Tom, even after his passing, to continue to contribute to introducing more people to Minnesota’s resources and fishing in particular.”