July 19, 2025 – A Celebration of Life on the Gunflint Trail

On a warm summer day beneath towering pines and a sky full of memories, friends, family, and community members gathered at Gunflint Lodge to celebrate the extraordinary life of Bruce Kerfoot. It was a day of reflection, laughter, storytelling, and heartfelt remembrance—exactly as Bruce would have wanted.
Bruce Kerfoot was more than just the longtime owner of Gunflint Lodge. He was a towering presence in the Gunflint Trail community—a man who filled so many roles: wilderness guide, business owner, firefighter, storyteller, historian, mentor, husband, father, and friend. His legacy is woven deeply into the fabric of the Northwoods.

During the memorial service, one of the most poignant moments came exactly at noon with a final page sent by the Cook County Sheriff’s Department followed by a moment of silence. In recognition of Bruce’s service as a founding member of the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department, the Department issued a symbolic last call—releasing him from duty and granting him the rest he has earned. That solemn tribute echoed across the wilderness Bruce loved so dearly, a final “stand down” for a man who had always stood up for his community.

Bruce helped build the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department from the ground up, quite literally. He was there from the beginning—advocating, organizing, and responding. His commitment to safety and preparedness helped transform the Gunflint Trail into a more resilient and connected place. It was just one of many ways Bruce gave back.

Bruce was also a founding member of the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center, where he worked to preserve and interpret the cultural and natural history of the Gunflint Trail. He shared stories not only from his own remarkable life but from the generations that came before him, ensuring those voices would not be lost to time.

His dedication to youth and the wilderness was also recognized nationally when he was awarded the Silver Beaver by the Boy Scouts of America—an honor reserved for those who make exceptional contributions to Scouting. For Bruce, it was never about the award. It was about guiding the next generation to love the outdoors, respect nature, and find themselves in its silence.

Many talked about Bruce as being bigger than life, and that he lived life with his foot on the throttle. His son, Lee, reflected that he thinks of his father as a white pine—tall and sturdy, towering above the rest. But more than that, he reminded us that in nature, nothing lives for itself. The white pine offers shade and shelter to those below, just as Bruce did. He stood tall for others, giving of himself without hesitation, creating space for others to thrive, learn, and grow.

Throughout his life, Bruce championed the wilderness. He spoke for the trees, the lakes, and the loons. He knew the Gunflint Trail was more than just a road—it was a way of life. And he welcomed everyone—guests, neighbors, friends—into that life with the warmth of a crackling Lodge fire.
For many, Bruce was a mentor. For more, a friend. For all of us at Gunflint Lodge & Outfitters, he was and will always be part of who we are. His legacy is not confined to the past—it lives on in every paddle stroke, every cabin story, every child who learns to build a fire, and every guest who falls in love with the magic of this place.

Bruce Kerfoot may have signed off duty, but his spirit remains tall on the Trail, in the Lodge, and in the hearts of those who continue the journey he helped blaze.

And now we know that Bruce has gone ahead into the ultimate adventure. Rest easy, Bruce. You’ve earned it.