Village Mourns Loss Of Longtime Firefighter
Trending
LAKEWOOD -- The Lakewood Fire Department was mourning the loss of Edwin Nelson, a life-member of the department who passed away at the age of 93.
Nelson volunteered for more than seven decades. He first joined in March 1948 when he was 18 years old.
“Ed’s been there forever,” Kurt Hallberg, Lakewood fire chief, said Tuesday. “He got in seven years before I was born actually, so he’s been there forever.”
Nelson served as a member of the U.S. Navy for four years during the Korean War. After his military service, he remained a very active firefighter.
Hallberg said Nelson was the kind of person who would drop whatever he was doing and help others because that was important to him.
“He would help anybody and he always did it with a smile,” he said. “He was an all-around good guy.”
In 1981, Nelson became the second assistant fire chief, and was promoted a year later to first assistant chief. In the mid-1990s, Nelson was appointed captain of fire police.
“In his later years, he was on fire police both in our department and for the county team,” Hallberg said. “You could always see him out there with his flashlight in all kinds of weather.”
County Executive PJ Wendel, a volunteer firefighter himself in Lakewood for 33 years, said Nelson’s “tremendous” legacy of “selfless dedication” is something the next generation can look up to.
Wendel said by looking at the example of Nelson, the next generation of volunteer firefighters can follow in his footsteps.
“I think by doing what Ed did,” he said. “Giving of yourself, forgetting about yourself and thinking about others. Sometimes that’s hard to do.”
In his 74 years, Nelson responded to 13,191 alarms, the department said in a message posted Tuesday to Facebook.
Hallberg said the fire department is quite different today than it was at the beginning of Nelson’s service. The amount of alarms the fire department responds to has significantly increased over the years.
“Back when he first got in, they were running less than a hundred,” he said. “Now we’re running a thousand a year. It was quite a feat for him to accomplish that.”
While serving as a volunteer firefighter, Nelson also was devoted to his family, raising five children with his wife. Four of Nelson’s children and three of his grandchildren followed in his steps and became members of the Lakewood Fire Department.
“He passed it on to a lot of his family.” Hallberg said. “It kind of ran in the family.”
When asked once about his lifelong service to the community, Nelson said being a firefighter was a central part of who he was. “I can’t quit,” Nelson said. “This is part of me.”
In its tribute to Nelson, the fire department honored him for his service and expressed gratitude for his commitment and leadership.
“Lakewood Fire was not part of him, but he was a part of us,” the fire department said. “His mentorship and friendship helped shape who we are today and for that we are grateful.”
Hallberg said Nelson continued to be active with the fire department until the past few years when he was no longer physically able to respond to fire alarms.
“We gave him a 70-year plaque in 2018 when he made 70 years.” he said.
Hallberg said Nelson continued to come by the fire hall whenever he could and was a great example to the rest of the firefighters.
“He always wanted to be at the fire hall,” Hallberg said. “He was just a really good example to all the guys. Whatever you asked him to do, he was willing to do it and did it with a smile.”
Wendel said without people like Nelson selflessly helping others in need, the devastation fires cause would increase. He said that while this generation is different from Nelson’s generation, the need for devoted volunteers remains the same.
“Carry this as a beacon and as a mantel and as a tradition that shouldn’t be given up,” Wendel said.