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Feb 24, 2015 | 06:48 PM

#1906

Chicago Fire Patrol

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Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,432

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I wanted to post this picture yesterday. I have the original newspaper article but I would love to get a copy of the original pic. I have been searching for years on eBay to buy this photo. I got lucky and found a few other original newspaper photos of him. The colorized one was one where I had a small b/w article and the original came up for sale and I grabbed it!

1941 Thrill Show. He is in the white shirt!

Feb 28, 2015 | 09:48 AM

#1907

Chicago Fire Patrol

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,432

Likes: 13

I am so disappointed this morning! I opened my newspaper and happened to see a obituary picture of a man in a Chicago Fire Department uniform. I recognized the name immediately! It was Raymond Mikkelson who happened to be a former Patrolman. Would you believe he worked at Patrol 5 and rode on my rig. He man lived only 10 minutes from me! What a bummer! I would have loved to give him a ride in his former rig. I had searched for him years ago and was unsuccessful. Little did I know he lived two cities away. I left a condolences message on the funeral homes website so maybe the family will try and get in touch with me. Here is a pic of him at the big City Hall fire in 1957!

Ray is on the left. He was heading back to the rig to get more salvage covers. The Patrol spread hundreds of covers and saved much property and valuable records.

Online Obituaries and Condolences - Barbara Falowski Funeral & Cremation Services - Ft. Lauderdale

Feb 28, 2015 | 03:22 PM

#1908

bobbytnm

Roast em' if you got 'em

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 22,017

Likes: 9,975

From: Rio Rancho, NM

As always, great pictures!!

Sorry to hear about the Fire Patrolman loss, especially since he lived close and you had been trying to find him without success.

Bobby

Feb 28, 2015 | 04:06 PM

#1909

49f3dls

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 2,203

Likes: 4

From: Southern SC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago Fire Patrol

Keith when my farther in law passed the river forest fire dept had a rig in his procession. Have you thought of contacting the house and seeing if you could honor him with a run like that?

Feb 28, 2015 | 04:08 PM

#1910

Chicago Fire Patrol

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,432

Likes: 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbytnm

As always, great pictures!!

Sorry to hear about the Fire Patrolman loss, especially since he lived close and you had been trying to find him without success.

Bobby

Thanks Bobby! I got a hold of his daughter. Some family is still in town from Chicago and they will come see the rig on Monday!!

Feb 28, 2015 | 04:28 PM

#1911

Harrier

Lead Driver

Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 9,690

Likes: 1,255

From: Jefferson City, MO

Quote:

Originally Posted by 49f3dls

Keith when my farther in law passed the river forest fire dept had a rig in his procession. Have you thought of contacting the house and seeing if you could honor him with a run like that?

That's a great idea. That may be hard to pull off and would be a lot of work for you Keith, but it would be a great tribute for one of our fallen heroes.

Feb 28, 2015 | 08:08 PM

#1912

Chicago Fire Patrol

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Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,432

Likes: 13

Dave, that's a great idea but the funeral was yesterday. I would of done it!

Feb 28, 2015 | 08:34 PM

#1913

49f3dls

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 2,203

Likes: 4

From: Southern SC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago Fire Patrol

Dave, that's a great idea but the funeral was yesterday. I would of done it!

That's a shame. My father in law was 3rd generation fire fighter in River Forest. His grandfather was first chief of Oak Park his father and sons were on RF force so four generations. When he passed it was really special to have the truck make that tribute to the family.
Hope you can find more history on your rig it has been fun following the history of it.

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Mar 2, 2015 | 08:19 PM

#1914

Chicago Fire Patrol

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Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,432

Likes: 13

I had an awesome night tonight!! The family of the recently deceased Patrolman came by the warehouse to see the truck. I took them for a nice ride! They were so excited! They kept saying we can’t stop smiling! The daughter even cried when she talked about how her dad would of loved to be able to see it. It was so nice to bring some joy to a family that recently lost their dad! It was such a great feeling to be able to do that for them. They said if they had known me before the funeral they would of asked me to bring it to the service. The son is flying home tomorrow. Sad thing is, their dad had lived in Florida for the past 15 years and I couldn’t find him. There are fewer and fewer former Patrolmen every year. I have decided to make one final effort to try and locate guys I haven’t talked to yet. I am thinking of putting an ad in the Chicago Fire Department Union newsletter. It goes out to all the retiree’s so maybe I will get lucky!! Here are some pics of the family:

Ray & Kim

The whole family including the grand kids.Pic is dark.

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Mar 2, 2015 | 08:27 PM

#1915

Harrier

Lead Driver

Joined: Nov 2002

Posts: 9,690

Likes: 1,255

From: Jefferson City, MO

You never cease to amaze me Keith!
It's disappointing you couldn't find him before he passed, but you gave the family something they will never forget. Kudos to you.

Mar 2, 2015 | 08:39 PM

#1916

49f3dls

Posting Guru

Joined: Jul 2012

Posts: 2,203

Likes: 4

From: Southern SC.

Keith you must feel good to bring that much happiness to a family at a time like that. I hope you realize how special that is and what a great gift you have

Mar 2, 2015 | 08:41 PM

#1917

Chicago Fire Patrol

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 1,432

Likes: 13

Thanks Joe!! I feel so good tonight!!
Here is the roster from 1958 that shows Ray working out of Patrol 5.

Mar 2, 2015 | 08:43 PM

#1918

Chicago Fire Patrol

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2007

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Likes: 13

Thanks Dave .... I do know!

Mar 2, 2015 | 10:07 PM

#1919

bobbytnm

Roast em' if you got 'em

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 22,017

Likes: 9,975

From: Rio Rancho, NM

That is excellent Keith.
I'm glad you were able to connect with them and give them a little happiness. Its amazing how big a role your truck has played in so many lives.

A huge round of frosty beverages in your honor!

Bobby

Mar 2, 2015 | 10:25 PM

#1920

underthebridgejim

FTE fan

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 3,674

Likes: 11

From: paradise, northern calif.

If the paper is still in business, is it possible they kept microfeich? Just a longshot thought. I'm sorry to hear that you missed meeting Raymond M, so close it's really sad.

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