Funeral Services Set for Minnesota Fire Chief

Goodview, MN (KROC-AM News)- Funeral services have been set for the southeast Minnesota fire chief who passed away earlier this month.

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Goodview Fire and Rescue Chief Jason Gruett was 51 years old. Flags have been flying at half-staff in honor of the fallen first responder throughout the week in Minnesota.

The Department he led announced his passing on March 13. He was escorted from Rochester to a funeral home in Goodview on Thursday afternoon.

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Funeral Happening on Thursday for Goodview, MN Fire Chief Jason Gruett

A news release issued on Tuesday by Goodview Fire and Rescue says Chief Gruett’s passing is considered a Line of Duty Death. The husband, father of three and grandfather will be laid to rest on Thursday.

His funeral will begin at 11 a.m. at the Remlinger Collector Car Museum in Winona. A visitation is scheduled to take place from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hoff Funeral Home in Goodview.

All Minnesota Firefighters are invited to support Chief Gruett’s family and attend Thursday’s celebration of life. There will also be a procession planned from the site of the funeral to the interment at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Winona.

Chief Gruett was a member of the volunteer Goodview Fire and Rescue Department for the past 19 years and worked at Wabasha Sand and Gravel for 34 years.

He is remembered as a person who brought compassion and joy to his community.

More Minnesota News:

These Common Household Items Are Now Banned In Minnesota

A hot topic lately is PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals" because they are difficult for humans to detoxify and have half-lives measured in years. These chemicals accumulate in the body over time and can cause significant health issues even at low exposure levels

PFAS are commonly found in the environment and the human body and have been linked to a range of health concerns including increased cholesterol levels, potential disruption of hormone systems, reduced immune function, increased risk of certain cancers, developmental issues in children, and reproductive problems, particularly in pregnant women.

On January 1, 2024, Minnesota prohibited PFAS in firefighting foam and food packaging. The state is taking an even more aggressive stance against the chemicals in 2025.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the first prohibitions of products containing intentionally added PFAS under Amara's Law (Minn. Stat. § 116.943) are now in effect in Minnesota, meaning you can no longer legally purchase these items.

If you're wondering if you already have products with intentionally added PFAS, you can take the following steps to be sure:

Check the label - Look for products that are labeled as PFAS-free.
Check for keywords - Look for words like "waterproof," "stain-repellent," or "dirt-repellant" on the tag.
Check for ingredients - Avoid products that contain ingredients with "perfluoro" or "fluoro" in their name.
Use a third-party verification service - Some organizations offer third-party verification of products that claim to be made without PFAS.

As of January 1, 2025, you can no longer purchase products with intentionally added PFAS in Minnesota. These products fall under the 11 categories below.

Gallery Credit: David Drew

Filed Under: southeast minnesota