rwo978
Turbo Poster
Joined: 06 Sep 2005
Posts: 2466
Location: West Fargo, ND
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 Posted: Tue 18-Nov-2008 06:50 Post subject: Local FF dies from medical condition while hunting |
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Firefighter was jokester, serious professional
Dave Olson, The Forum
Published Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Anytime someone pulled a practical joke at the Fargo Fire Department, Dan Stetz was the go-to suspect.
But when a call came in for help, Stetz was all business, according to colleagues who gathered Monday to remember the 47-year-old Moorhead man who collapsed and died Sunday while hunting near Hawley, Minn.
It is believed Stetz died from a medical condition, according to Clay County Sheriff Bill Bergquist, who said Stetz�s remains have been sent to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner�s Office for an autopsy.
Those who worked with Stetz said his death was like losing a brother.
�We are a second family,� said Capt. Bruce Anderson.
When a fellow firefighter was remodeling a kitchen, or pouring concrete, Stetz could always be relied upon to help, said Capt. LeRoy Skarloken.
Skarloken said his friend, who started with the department in 1991, could also be counted on for a laugh, or two.
�About 80 percent of the time, (when) I would laugh it was something he did or something he said. We were always laughing and that�s good,� said Skarloken.
�But when it came to an emergency, when it came to a run, he was all business,� said Anderson, who recalled the time Stetz rescued a friend from the rubble of a collapsed building.
Stetz�s funeral is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead.
His co-workers anticipate a large turnout of firefighters and family members, many of whom are from the Barnesville, Minn., area, where Stetz grew up.
�He knew everybody in Barnesville,� said Capt. Gary Lorenz, who talked about his friend�s love of the outdoors.
Others agreed.
�He was doing what he loved when he left us,� said Anderson.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555
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