Riley Ray Burnell, 24, of International Falls, Minn., died Thursday morning, Sept. 6, 2012, as the result of a tragic automobile accident.
Riley was born Feb. 18, 1988, in International Falls.
He enjoyed hunting, ice fishing, camping, numerous sports, and most recently Men’s Softball League for the Slammers.
Riley married the love of his life, Natasha Rae Kopkie, shortly after her high school graduation in 2008.
Tasha and Riley had very specific goals for their life together. They stayed focused on graduating with honors in their fields from Rainy River Community College and Bemidji State University. After earning his criminal justice degree, Riley finalized his training at Alexandria Technical College Law Enforcement Skills in 2010. He was honored to have the opportunity to serve on the International Falls Police Department and Koochiching County Sheriff’s Department.
He was preceded in death by his father, Pinky Burnell; brother, Jack Burnell; brother-in-law, Jerry Allen; grandparents, Ross and Ruby Burnell, Ray and Rose Rutledge, and Dean and Lois Jensen.
Riley is survived by his parents, Roger and Irene Jensen; father and mother-in-law, Dan and Kim Kopkie; sister-in-law, Amber Kopkie; brother, Gary Jensen of Merritt Island, Fla.; sisters, Rudean (Bob) Keith of Makinen, Minn., Robin Weilage of Sauk Centre, Minn., Rhonda (Randy) Salmon of Nipomo, Calif., Randi (Scott) Sander of Pelican Rapids, Minn., and Shana (Jeremy) Alexander of Grand Forks, N.D.; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In his short life, he touched the hearts and souls of many.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12, at Green-Larsen Mortuary.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Bob Walls Memorial Union Hall, International Falls.
Condolences may be left at www.greenlarsen.com.
Arrangements are with Green-Larsen Mortuary Inc., International Falls.
