Memorial Services

• Jeremy Wach

IBS/KETV Firefighter Jeremy Wach

Wymore Firefighter Memorialized
Hundreds Gather To Lay Firefighter To Rest

OMAHA, Neb. -- Thousands of firefighters hailing from as far as New York gathered in Beatrice on Friday to memorialize a fallen comrade.

A friend rose to speak early in the funeral service. In tears and reading from a verse written especially for the event, he said Jeremy Wach was a man who would want to fall so that others could stand.

Wach's funeral began at 1 p.m. at the Church of Christ in Beatrice. He's survived by his wife, Melissa, and two young sons.

Speakers said Melissa was the love of Wach's life, and they had a wonderful life together.

Memorials can be made at any US Bank location.

Wach is the 22nd firefighter to die in the line of duty in Nebraska since 1981 when the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation started keeping records.

An overloaded attic circuit triggered a house fire that killed the volunteer Wymore firefighter, according to state Fire Marshal John Falgione.

Falgione said the loss of roof rafters in the fire led to the collapse of a brick chimney onto the ceiling, causing the ceiling fall.

Wach, 31, of Wymore, was pronounced dead at the scene of a house fire in Wymore on Monday. Wach was a member of the Wymore Volunteer Fire Department and was a Gage County sheriff's deputy who ran the jail.

The Gage County attorney said a fire broke out inside a home at about 1 a.m. A woman and her two children escaped without injuries.

http://journalstar.com/articles/2007/11/05/news/local/doc472f1c14c29a5106591926.txt

• JONES— Roy E. “Jonesy”, age 75, LaVista. Preceded in death by parents, Charles and Elea­nor Jones. Survived by wife, Hermina; children, Patty Gaddis, Rick (Laurie) Jones, Joni Jones, Mike Jones, Tom (Sandy) Jones, Don (Patti) Jones, Diane (Gary) Carlson; 16 grandchil­dren; 6 great-grandchildren; brothers, Ray, Art, Marv, and Bob; sister, Geneva Hobson; numerous other relatives and friends.
  VISITATION Tues. after 4 PM with Vigil Service at 8 PM at the Funeral Home.
  Funeral Wed. 10 AM Bethany Funeral Home Chapel. Interment Cedar Dale Cemetery. Military honors by Papillion American Legion. Firefighter honors by Papillion Fire Department. Memorials requested to P.V.F.D. Inc.
  BETHANY FUNERAL HOME 82nd & Harrison 593-6100 =============
   
  • Leo Soderquist

  Central Nebraska Fallen Firefighter Remembered
  
  A local firefighter who served his community for more than 3 decades is honored by the nation. Friends and colleagues say he wouldn't want all the recognition, but he's definitely deserving
  of it.
  
  Assistant Unit Captain for the Axtell Volunteer Fire Department Scott Johnson said, "We had a late night fire, everything went normal we headed out we had just got back to the barn and Leo had a heart attack."
  
  In December of 2006, Leo Soderquist dies after returning from fighting a structure fire. Scott Johnson was with Leo on that call.
  
  "It was a shock," Johnson explained. "He was basically one of the family, which is what we all
  are, and so today to see him being honored in Washington like that it was great."
  
  Soderquist was among 91 men and women remembered for their courage.
  
  "Across our great country, homes still stand and families can go about their lives because firefighters put themselves in harm's way to protect us," said President George Bush. "Pray that we live life worthy of sacrifices made by those who's names we add to this memorial today."
  
  "It's tough, it brought back a lot of memories of after the death and things you
  remember about Leo before and how he probably would've reacted if he knew what was going on there and it was one of those deals that'd bring a tear to your eye thinking about it," Johnson described.
  
  Soderquist's family, including his wife and son, were on hand. Leo's son Shawn follows in his father's footsteps as an Axtell Volunteer Firefighter.
  
  Leo's the type that didn't want all the glitz, that's just not how Leo was he was pretty straight forward," Johnson added. "He would've been real proud to see Shawn and them all out there
  although we'd rather have him here, than them there."
  
  All in a day's work for a man who dedicated 36 years to protecting the community.
  
  "Leo's just another one of those guys that everyone knew him and he wa a
  big part of our department. It was a proud moment for everybody," Johnson concluded.
  
  More than 5,000 people, including members of congress, friends and family attended today's event. Leo's family will stay in the Washington DC area for a few more days to enjoy the sights.

Fallen firefighters

• Jeremy Wach, 31, Wymore Volunteer Fire Department, was killed while fighting a house fire & trying to rescue a mother and 2 children. Nov.5, 2007
• Leo Soderquist, 64, Axtell Fire and Rescue Unit, heart attack after helping fight a house fire, Dec. 1, 2006.
• Mike Aunkst, 45, Benedict Volunteer Fire Department, heart attack while helping fight a barn fire, Feb. 27, 2005.
• Bobby Heminger, 39, Wood River Volunteer Fire Department, injuries suffered in a burning house while trying to save a 73-year-old woman, Feb. 15, 2004.
• Kenny Woitalewicz, 38, Wood River Volunteer Fire Department, injuries suffered in a burning house while trying to save a 73-year-old woman, Feb. 17, 2004.
• Ronald Holmes, 43, North Platte Fire Department, injuries suffered in accident while driving ambulance on Interstate 80 near Crete exit, Aug. 6, 2003.
• Bernie Schutte, 42, Palisade Volunteer Fire Department, heart attack while fighting grass fire, March 20, 2002.