MONROE - David Rufer had a passion for the fire department all his life. Today, his name is inscribed on the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmetsburg, Md.
A 20-year member of the Monroe Fire Department, Rufer died on duty during a training exercise June 12, 2007. He was 42. He is the first Green County firefighter to have died on duty since Gary C. Soper, first assistant chief of the Argyle-Adams Volunteer Fire Department, died Mar. 11, 1981. Rufer is the only firefighter to die in the line of duty in the 150-year history of Monroe Fire Department.
Eight members of his family attended the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial services Oct. 4 and 5, to honor and remember the lives of Rufer and 109 other firefighters, and their service to the community. Seven members of the Monroe Fire Department drove to attend the services on Sunday.
Rufer's mother, Dottie, called the weekend "unbelievable, wonderful beyond expectations."
"And it's all done by volunteers - that's the most amazing part - and they do it every year," she said.
Also on the trip was David's son, Derek Rufer, with friend Lisa Krueger; David's father, Ken; sisters Ruth Ann Klein, Monroe, and Linda Breitnauer, Madison; and brother and sister-in-law Mark and Tammy Rufer, Monroe.
"There were serious moments and fun moments," Dottie said.
The weekend was wrapped in symbols of tradition and honor: The sculptured bronze Maltese Cross, a symbol used throughout centuries by those who provide aid in times of distress; an eternal flame representing the spirit of the firefighter - past, present, and future; the U.S. Flag of Honor; and the presidential wreath.
Ceremonial highlights included the annual 500-motorcycle Red Helmet Ride, a candlelight service at the Basilica of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the Walk of Honor through the "Sea of Blue" uniformed fire service personnel.
Dottie, encircled by Ken, Mark and Derek, accepted the presentation of Rufer's flag, rose and badge, after his name was called into the list of those being honored this year.
The Rufer family has photos of all the main events, but they recall with emotion the little touches of the weekend: the polished rocks engraved with golden words of healing, courage and remembrance; the Fire Service Clowns who were so good with the children; and the flock of white doves released as a final tribute and symbol of hope.
"They let them all go, and then they sort of grouped together and flew around in a circle. Then all of a sudden, they flew off together," Dottie said about the doves.
A brick in the Walk of Honor, donated by the Monroe Police Association, was engraved with Rufer's name, dates of birth and death, and his fire number, 38, which the Monroe Fire Department has retired.
But Dottie, Ken and Ruth Ann agreed that the most amazing part was the three firefighters who volunteered to escort the family during the entire weekend event, Fire Chief Steve Schreiber, Black River Falls; firefighter and paramedic Shannon Oswald, Fairfax, Va.; and Monroe firefighter Todd Hasse. Schreiber was serving his 12th year as an escort.
"I think once you do it, you just keep coming back. It draws you back," Dottie said.
Hasse said he would do it again "in a heartbeat" for anyone in the fire department family or anybody else. He was asked by Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch to serve as the liaison between the department and the family for funeral arrangements, and then asked again if he would be an escort. Rufer worked for Hasse's surveying business.
"It was a very good experience," Hasse said. "It's hard - when you see a mother and two children walking by themselves, you just know they lost their father.
During the candlelight service, Hasse admitted "it was hard not to start crying" when a child sitting in front of him kept asking for his father.
The escorts guided the family through the weekend activities and provided any assistance they needed, sometimes even before they knew they needed it. An escort was always with a family member, even when they had to split up for special group sessions.
"They were with us all the time," Dottie said. "When we ate, they made sure we got a table before they sat down."
"Even when we told them, we just want to sit for a while, they sat with us," Klein said.
Rufer's passion for the fire department undoubtedly began with his father, Ken, who joined the department two years before David was born.
"All my married life was with the fire department, too. Our kids were 'fire kids,'" Dottie said laughing.
"Basically, he was doing what he always wanted to do," Klein said of Rufer's life. "I remember him constantly begging to go to the fire department."
"When the tones went off, he'd go off on his bike and ride to the corner of the fire department," Dottie remembered.
"Or wait until they got back," Klein added.
"And details ... every detail he wanted. 'Dad, what truck did they take out? How many went out?'" Dottie said.
"I let him go Thursday nights. Thursday night was cleanup," Ken said.
"After being on the fire department and becoming a motor pump operator, he found he really had a passion for vehicle extrication and teaching," Klein said.
Rufer joined the Monroe Fire Department on Oct. 16, 1986. He became a certified Firefighter I, Firefighter II, a motor pump operator and aerial operator. For the last 12 years of his service, Rufer took off from work and used his vacation time to train other firefighters, EMTs and responders from all over the state in S.A.F.E, safe and fast extrication.
He also volunteered as a member of the Milwaukee Mile Fire Rescue team responsible for fire suppression and vehicle rescue during practice, qualifying time trials and races.
"We got to watch him on TV every time they had a wreck," Klein said. "We could tell which one he was, just by the way they walked," she laughed.
Firefighters' families "give up a lot of family time," Dottie said.
When she invited him to family dinners, David's response was always the same, "We'll see."
The Fallen Firefighters' Memorial weekend gave the Rufers time to mingle and talk with other firefighters' families.
"Everybody's story was the same," Dottie said. "It was always about dedication, the unmitigated will to do for the fire department. Ultimately, it was the underlying dedication to the department."
A 20-year member of the Monroe Fire Department, Rufer died on duty during a training exercise June 12, 2007. He was 42. He is the first Green County firefighter to have died on duty since Gary C. Soper, first assistant chief of the Argyle-Adams Volunteer Fire Department, died Mar. 11, 1981. Rufer is the only firefighter to die in the line of duty in the 150-year history of Monroe Fire Department.
Eight members of his family attended the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial services Oct. 4 and 5, to honor and remember the lives of Rufer and 109 other firefighters, and their service to the community. Seven members of the Monroe Fire Department drove to attend the services on Sunday.
Rufer's mother, Dottie, called the weekend "unbelievable, wonderful beyond expectations."
"And it's all done by volunteers - that's the most amazing part - and they do it every year," she said.
Also on the trip was David's son, Derek Rufer, with friend Lisa Krueger; David's father, Ken; sisters Ruth Ann Klein, Monroe, and Linda Breitnauer, Madison; and brother and sister-in-law Mark and Tammy Rufer, Monroe.
"There were serious moments and fun moments," Dottie said.
The weekend was wrapped in symbols of tradition and honor: The sculptured bronze Maltese Cross, a symbol used throughout centuries by those who provide aid in times of distress; an eternal flame representing the spirit of the firefighter - past, present, and future; the U.S. Flag of Honor; and the presidential wreath.
Ceremonial highlights included the annual 500-motorcycle Red Helmet Ride, a candlelight service at the Basilica of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the Walk of Honor through the "Sea of Blue" uniformed fire service personnel.
Dottie, encircled by Ken, Mark and Derek, accepted the presentation of Rufer's flag, rose and badge, after his name was called into the list of those being honored this year.
The Rufer family has photos of all the main events, but they recall with emotion the little touches of the weekend: the polished rocks engraved with golden words of healing, courage and remembrance; the Fire Service Clowns who were so good with the children; and the flock of white doves released as a final tribute and symbol of hope.
"They let them all go, and then they sort of grouped together and flew around in a circle. Then all of a sudden, they flew off together," Dottie said about the doves.
A brick in the Walk of Honor, donated by the Monroe Police Association, was engraved with Rufer's name, dates of birth and death, and his fire number, 38, which the Monroe Fire Department has retired.
But Dottie, Ken and Ruth Ann agreed that the most amazing part was the three firefighters who volunteered to escort the family during the entire weekend event, Fire Chief Steve Schreiber, Black River Falls; firefighter and paramedic Shannon Oswald, Fairfax, Va.; and Monroe firefighter Todd Hasse. Schreiber was serving his 12th year as an escort.
"I think once you do it, you just keep coming back. It draws you back," Dottie said.
Hasse said he would do it again "in a heartbeat" for anyone in the fire department family or anybody else. He was asked by Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch to serve as the liaison between the department and the family for funeral arrangements, and then asked again if he would be an escort. Rufer worked for Hasse's surveying business.
"It was a very good experience," Hasse said. "It's hard - when you see a mother and two children walking by themselves, you just know they lost their father.
During the candlelight service, Hasse admitted "it was hard not to start crying" when a child sitting in front of him kept asking for his father.
The escorts guided the family through the weekend activities and provided any assistance they needed, sometimes even before they knew they needed it. An escort was always with a family member, even when they had to split up for special group sessions.
"They were with us all the time," Dottie said. "When we ate, they made sure we got a table before they sat down."
"Even when we told them, we just want to sit for a while, they sat with us," Klein said.
Rufer's passion for the fire department undoubtedly began with his father, Ken, who joined the department two years before David was born.
"All my married life was with the fire department, too. Our kids were 'fire kids,'" Dottie said laughing.
"Basically, he was doing what he always wanted to do," Klein said of Rufer's life. "I remember him constantly begging to go to the fire department."
"When the tones went off, he'd go off on his bike and ride to the corner of the fire department," Dottie remembered.
"Or wait until they got back," Klein added.
"And details ... every detail he wanted. 'Dad, what truck did they take out? How many went out?'" Dottie said.
"I let him go Thursday nights. Thursday night was cleanup," Ken said.
"After being on the fire department and becoming a motor pump operator, he found he really had a passion for vehicle extrication and teaching," Klein said.
Rufer joined the Monroe Fire Department on Oct. 16, 1986. He became a certified Firefighter I, Firefighter II, a motor pump operator and aerial operator. For the last 12 years of his service, Rufer took off from work and used his vacation time to train other firefighters, EMTs and responders from all over the state in S.A.F.E, safe and fast extrication.
He also volunteered as a member of the Milwaukee Mile Fire Rescue team responsible for fire suppression and vehicle rescue during practice, qualifying time trials and races.
"We got to watch him on TV every time they had a wreck," Klein said. "We could tell which one he was, just by the way they walked," she laughed.
Firefighters' families "give up a lot of family time," Dottie said.
When she invited him to family dinners, David's response was always the same, "We'll see."
The Fallen Firefighters' Memorial weekend gave the Rufers time to mingle and talk with other firefighters' families.
"Everybody's story was the same," Dottie said. "It was always about dedication, the unmitigated will to do for the fire department. Ultimately, it was the underlying dedication to the department."