Kay Grindland, 66, of Grand Marais, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2024, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital, surrounded by her loved ones, after a courageous yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. Her family extends heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate healthcare professionals and community members who supported her throughout her journey.

Kay was born on November 22, 1957, in Webster, South Dakota, to Enid and Cliff Grindland. She grew up in Morris, Minnesota, and graduated from Morris High School in 1976. She went on to earn a degree in biology from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where her love for the natural world blossomed.

During her college years, Kay found her passion for nature and the outdoors while working at Wilderness Canoe Base near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This passion influenced her career, leading her to roles as an environmental educator at the Lake Carlos Environmental Nature Center and a naturalist for Hennepin County Parks, where she engaged people of all ages through her storytelling and deep-ecology programs.

Kay’s dedication to service extended beyond her love of nature. She spent a year volunteering with VISTA in New York City and later became the director of Norcroft: A Writing Retreat for Women, fostering a community of writers and creatives. She made a significant impact in Cook County as the founding director of Care Partners, an agency devoted to serving the aging community, before retiring in 2022.

On September 9, 2011, Kay married Grey Jordan, her partner in life and creativity. Together, they built their dream home in Grand Marais, where they enjoyed the artistic process of creating spaces filled with love and color. One of their most cherished spots was a serene place by a stream on their property, shaded by a majestic cedar tree and graced with a single lady slipper.

Kay was also a gifted writer who captured the beauty and wonder of the world through her poetry, creating handmade books that reflected her profound connection to nature and her journey of healing. Her words left an indelible mark on those who read them.

Kay is survived by her beloved husband, Grey; her sisters, Ann (Mark) Walters of Duluth, Lori (Steve) DeLaney of Long Beach, California, and brother Eric (Marlene) Grindland of Sartell; and Grey’s daughters and grandchildren: Bryn (Jeremy) Thompson of Grand Marais, Leah (Heath) Ekstrom of Lutsen, and Colleen Edstrom of Superior, Wisconsin. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and friends who adored her. Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Enid and Cliff Grindland.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Grand Marais at a later date to honor Kay’s memory and the many ways she touched the lives of those around her.