Fire Department History
Kolze Volunteer Fire Department (1915)
16 active members, 36 total members
Chief George Mueller, August Vehlow, Jr. (organizer), Irvin Mueller, George Pasquale
By-Laws adopted 1/24/1917
Soo Line Hotel Burned to the Ground - 1923
First Fire Truck – 1929 American LaFrance
Fire Chief Joins International Association of Fire Chiefs 5/10/48, $4.00
Roundhouse burned to the ground – 1960’s
Past Fire Chiefs
George Mueller - 1914 and 1915
August Vehlow, Jr. - 1916
Sigmund Schalkowski - unknown years
George Mueller - 1919
John F. Squires - 5/30/20 (possibly earlier)
William Mueller - 1921
Schiller Park Fire Department (1925)
George Mueller - 5/5/24 to 5/1/37?
Arthur Ziese - unknown years
Charles Lussow - 5/17/37? to 6/8/45
George Mueller - 6/8/45 to 4/18/49
George Pasquale - 4/18/49 to 5/11/51
Joe Swider - 5/13/49 to 5/9/51
Charles Koskie - 5/9/51 to 10/14/57
Olin Illgen - 10/14/57 to 10/10/59
Charles Koskie - 10/10/59 to 1/1/62
Walter Siwek - 1/1/62 to 5/10/63
Louis Castle – 5/10/63 to 7/1/63
Charles V. Leiser - 7/1/63 to 5/1/71
Walter Siwek – 5/1/71 to 5/15/86
Charles Jeffrey – 5/15/86 to 9/21/90
Henry Davis - 9/21/90 to 4/30/93
Walter Preiss – 5/11/03 to 2/15/95
Thomas Deegan – 2/15/95 to present
SPFD Volunteer History
William Alamaraz – voted in 10/55 – last meeting 7/57
Donald Andres – started 12/62 - last meeting 1/75
Fred Ashenbrenner – started 6/63 – left 11/63
Robert Babula– started 9/81 – left 5/90
Richard Bacha – started 7/69 - left 11/72, still appointed 5/74
Edwin Ball - started 1/73 - became full-time 3/74
Robert Barnard – started 8/60 – left in 1974
Ben Barkowski – started 11/58 – left 11/70
Wallace Bartyzal – started 1/65 - left in 1973
Herbert Bartman – started 6/53 - left 10/59
Dominic Barzano – started 10/54 -
John Barzano – started 12/57 – left 6/63 - 1972?
Reno Biasi – started 10/57 – became full-time 3/69, retired 8/89
J.W. Brinsko - 10/52 – one payroll
Victor Brinsko – voted in 11/56 – resigned 6/60
Edward Burchardt – 51 - - left 4/55
Raymond Burchardt – started 5/47 - left 4/59
Richard Burchardt – started 6/54 - left 9/55
Christopher Cain – started 5/82 – left 4/83
Henry Caliendo – started 10/57 – left 12/57
Albert Castle - started 11/66 - last meeting 6/72 – still on roll call 12/74
John Castle – started 11/58 – left 6/71 – still on roll call 12/74
Louis Castle – started 10/52 – left 10/66
Joe Chirifice - started 12/57 – left 5/67
Ray Cloud – started 1/65 – left 10/68
Tony Conforti – started 5/64 – left 4/67
Robert Cookson – started 5/63 – one meeting
William Cuttler – started 4/52 - left 10/52
Sam DiMaggio – started 5/66 – still active
John Dugan – started 10/57 – left 2/59
Kevin Dusek – started 10/95 – still active
Jay Emigh – started 8/50 - left 9/55
Albert Fabbri – started 6/60 – left 8/84
Brian Fabbri – started 9/81 – still active
A. Festi – started 1/17 -
George Fick – voted in 9/55 – left 2/59
Dale Finucane – started 10/66 - last meeting 3/73 – left in 1974
John Fligg – started 6/46 - left 4/52
Edward Gaitens– started 6/75 –
Harry Gary – started - left 11/45
Kevin Gerard – started 11/81 -
Richard Goldsworthy – started 7/60 – left 5/65
William Gorr – started 6/65 – left 8/78
Steve Grishow – started 10/34 - last meeting 10/57
Leo Grosch – started 5/46 - voted out 12/56
Russell Grosch – started 11/50 - voted out 12/60
Leo Guzior – started 5/49 - left 2/57
Dennis Gwinnup – started 5/75 –
William Hansen, Jr. – started 11/46 – left 8/47
William Hansen, Sr. – started 9/45 – left 3/47
Fred Hemple – started 11/66 - last meeting 12/71
Raynel Hoyle – started 6/63 – became full-time 3/69, left 12/71
Richard Hoyle - started 10/68 – last meeting 7/74
Olin Illgen – started 12/44 - left 5/59
John Jaeger – started 7/65 – left in 1972
Charles Jeffrey – started in 1971, became full-time 2/73, retired 11/07
Ed Johnson – - left 5/45
H.M. Johnson – started 1/17 -
Robert Johnson – started 6/49 – left 3/50
Donald Jordan – started 3/73 - became full-time 3/74, retired 6/98
Teof Juliano – started 6/60 – left 5/93
Michael Kaufman – started 8/98 - left 8/02
Phil Kaufman – started 6/59 – left 10/68
Robert Kilman – started 6/66 - left 5/99
F.R. Knoble – started 1/17 -
Cas Koehler – started 4/62 – left 7/65
Warren Koehn – started 4/58 – left 9/70
Henry Kohl - 10/55 – one payroll
Elmer Kolze – started 1/17 -
Charles Koskie – started 7/46 – left 5/65
Raymond Krewer – started 2/53 - left 10/55
David Kresch – started 3/61 – one meeting
George Kubalewski – started 6/68 – became full-time 2/70, retired 11/80
Harold Kueker – started 3/59 – left 2/61
Fr. Joseph Kulaga – appointed Chaplain 11/4/68 -
Bill Kunkel – started 6/59 – left 5/66
Floyd Kwasnieski – 6/56 – one payroll
Chester Kwiat – 63 – started 7/63 - became full-time 5/67, retired 10/94
Jim Laturno – started 6/59 – left 4/64
Herman Lehmann – started 1/17 -
Charles Leiser – voted in 2/57 – became full-time 5/67, retired 5/86
Ismael Limon – started 10/95 – left 11/97
Ernest Lueth – started 7/52 - voted out 11/59
Charles Lussow – started 6/25, left 6/45
W.P. Lynch – listed in 1925, not 1934
Kieran Mackey – started 11/81 – left in 1989
Edward Mahoney – started 5/67 – left after 5/79
John Mark – started 12/54 - left 9/55
George Marsolek – started 1/42 - left 3/53
Arthur Martin – started 3/52 – left 10/52
William Matelski – started 1/17 -
Frank Maturno – 54 –
Roy McCampbell – started 6/76 – left 5/93
Joe McLeese – started 10/57 – left 5/69
Frank Mietus – started 5/58 – left 4/91
Michael Mietus – started 5/91 - left after 5/97
Herbert Milnes – started 4/58 – became full-time 5/67, retired 10/91
Joe Mittleman – started 1/48 -
Alfred Mueller – started 1/42 – left 4/49
George Mueller – started 1/15 - left 5/49
Irving Mueller – started 8/15 – left 6/49
John Mueller – started 11/44 – left 4/51
William Mueller – started 8/21 - left 11/51
Vincent Munson – started 6/53 also 5/62? – left in 1973
Robert Murbach – started 2/77 – became full-time, retired 11/04
Fred Neuring – started 1/17 -
Frank Nordie – started 6/49 – last meeting 8/57
Fred Nordie – started 3/52 – last meeting 8/57
Frank Novatny – started 11/62 – left 5/65
William Ohlhaber – started 1/17 –
Charles Parker – listed in 1925, not 1934
Dennis Parzygnat – started 2/73 -
George Pasquale – started 8/15 – left 8/60
Ralph Pasquale - started 8/59 - left 11/59
Gordon Paulson – started 3/52 - left 10/56
Leonard Paulson – started 4/46 - left 11/50
Mike Pellegrino – started 11/50 – left 5/66
Timothy Powers – started 1/82 – became full-time 8/81, left 1/82
William Powers – started 6/70 – last meeting 7/74
Barney Preski – started 8/50 - left 6/51
Edward Prier – started 9/65 – left 6/68 – still on roll call 12/74
Kevin Quinn – started before 2/82 – left in 1990
Patrick Quinn – started 3/87 – still active
John Rayniak – started 5/51 - left 5/52
Ronald Rayniak – started 5/55 - left 11/55
Walter Rayniak – started 5/51 - left 2/60
Ronald Reierson – started 11/54 – last meeting 10/72, still appointed 5/74
Ernest Richardson – started 1/65 – left 10/68
Mike Ruffullo – started 5/66 – left 12/67
Louis Salisbury – started 3/52 - left 5/52
Clyde Sax – started 7/51 - left 1/52
Charles Schalkowski – started 1/17 -
Frank Schalkowski – started 1/17 –
Leslie Schalkowski – started 9/75 -
Ray Schalkowski – started 10/47 – last meeting 10/73, still appointed 5/74
Sigmund Schalkowski – started 1/17 –
William Schaefer – started 1/17 -
R. Scharf – started 1/17 -
Harold Schlesser – started 6/63 - last meeting 5/74
William Schmalfeld – started 7/46 – left 3/50
Al Scholle – started 6/59 - left 2/60
William Schriner – started 7/67 – left 1/68
Joe Schutz – started 6/60 – left 8/69
Stanley Serwa?sp - 10/52 – one payroll
John Shires – started 1/17 -
Herbert Siemers – started 2/41 – left 10/50
Walter Siemers – started 7/45 -
Ronald Sieracki – on roll call 72-73-74+
William Simmons – started 6/66 – left in 1971
Eugene Siwik – started 6/60 – left 6/65
Walter Siwek – started 12/51 – became full-time 5/69, retired 5/86
William Smale – on roll call in 1972 only
Harry Smith – started 6/49 - left 7/52
Stanley Siwek – started ? - left 10/55
Bob Synder?sp - 10/52 – one payroll
Claude Sonday – started 12/57 – last meeting 4/58
Ned Spadaro – started 11/58 – left after 8/75
David Stachura – started 9/71 – left 4/82, started 5/93 - left 4/00
David Stachura, Jr. – started 1/94 – left 3/94
Timothy Stachura – started 3/99
Ted Stanek – started 12/52 – left 6/53
Henry Stephany – started 5/46 – left 2/59
William Stoker – started 6/60 – left 1/65
Irving Stolen – started 6/53 – left 12/72, still appointed 5/77
Sivert Stolen – started 7/41 – left 10/46
Theodore Stomek?sp – 51 -
Gerald Stone – started 9/68 – left 4/98
Ken Strutz – started 6/59 – left 12/59
Joe Swider – started 1/42 - left 4/54
Mike Szymanski – started 10/55 - left 11/55
Donald Tessler – started 9/81 – left after 5/84, before 4/85
George Theodosakis – started 12/52 – left 5/59
Harry Theodosakis – started 1/42 - left 2/54
Wayne Therry – started 3/52 - left 7/53
C.A. Thompkins – started 1/17 -
Anthony Tomasello – started 6/60 – left 5/65
Alfred Topel – started 1/17 -
Peter Ugorek – started 6/73 - became full-time 3/78, left 6/80
August Vehlow, Jr. – Started 1/15 -
John Victor – started 6/66 – left 2/73
Gerald Von Schwedler – started 5/60 – left 7/88
Alan Wadleigh – started 8/74 – left 9/83
Milt Walker – started 5/62 – left 3/70
William Weber – listed in 1925, not 1934
John Wierwora – started 4/59 – left 1/88
Joe Zane – started in 12/54 – left 3/61
Peter Zappen – started 10/56 – left 5/65
Arthur Ziese – started 9/29 – left 7/46
Carl Zeise – started 8/17 -
Charles Ziese – started 1/17 -
Danny Zinga – started 4/61 – left 4/66
Dominic Zinga – started 8/54 – left 4/61
Records Researched to Date
Accounting Book – Starts 3/49, ends 5/61 (first fire pay records 3/51)
Department Meeting Minutes – Starts 5/46, ends 4/55
Department Meeting Minutes – Starts 6/55, ends 4/60
Fire Call Listing with Roll Call – Starts 8/59, ends 5/61
Department Meeting Minutes – Starts 5/61, ends 11/70
Department Meeting Minutes – Starts 9/69, ends 8/75
Fire incident reports – 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974
Historical Commission Records
Notes made by Dorothy Siwek after reviewing Village Board Minutes
SCHILLER PARK FIRE DEPARTMENT
FULL-TIME HISTORICAL DATA
BADGE NAME RANK DATES OF SERVICE
1 Charles V. Leiser FF Retired 05-01-67 to 05-15-86
2 Chester Kwiat Lt. Retired 05-01-67 to 10-15-94
3 Herbert Milnes Lt. Retired ****** 05-01-67 to 10-31-91
4 Raymond Hoyle FF Resigned 03-01-69 to 11-01-71
5 Reno Biasi FF Retired 03-01-69 to 08-31-89
6 Walter Siwek Chief Retired * **** 05-16-69 to 05-15-86
7 George Kubalewski FF Retired * *** 02-01-70 to 11-10-80
8 Daniel Pietrondoni FF Resigned 07-31-72 to 06-10-73
9 Richard Dugan FF Resigned 02-19-73 to 07-31-73
10 Walter Preiss Chief Retired 02-19-73 to 02-19-95
11 Jack Preiss FF Resigned 02-19-73 to 07-29-74
12 Dennis Ireton FF Retired 02-19-73 to 05-25-03
13 Edward Phipps FF Resigned 02-19-73 to 07-06-78
14 Charles Jeffrey Cmdr. Retired 02-19-73 to 10-31-07
15 Donald Jordan FF Retired ** 03-01-74 to 06-10-98
16 Edwin Ball FF Retired 03-01-74 to 11-02-00
17 Robert Ritt FF Resigned 08-19-74 to 11-10-81
18 Carl Schuyler FF Retired 09-30-74 to 09-30-04
19 William Schulze FF Resigned 09-30-74 to 01-01-79
20 James Swierczynski FF Retired 09-30-74 to 10-02-98
21 Peter Ugorek FF Resigned 03-27-78 to 06-15-80
22 Jerome Hanlon FF Retired ***** 06-01-78 to 06-03-02
23 Richard McGuire Lt. Retired 06-01-79 to 06-03-03
24 Thomas Deegan Chief Active 06-01-79 to
## Brian Vocca FF Resigned 06-01-79 to 03-15-80
## Steven Nosek FF Resigned 06-15-79 to 11-30-79
25 Robert Murbach FF Retired * 02-15-82 to 11-16-04
26 Michael Besch FF Retired 05-15-80 to 04-21-08
05-01-03 to 06-01-04
27 Charles G. Leiser Cmdr. Active 01-01-81 to
## Timothy Powers FF Resigned 08-01-81 to 01-15-82
28 Daniel Maher Cmdr. Active 11-01-81 to
29 Scot Anderson Lt. Active 10-15-83 to
30 Henry Mandziara FF Retired 07-15-87 to 07-17-07
31 Peter Chiodo Cmdr. Active 09-01-89 to
32 Jerome Budnik FF/PM Active 09-27-93 to
## Michael Walker FF/PM Resigned 10-12-94 to 11-30-96
33 Anthony Knuth Lt. Retired * 10-12-94 to 11-30-08
34 Scott Dary FF/PM Retired * 03-15-95 to 08-12-08
## John McNeill FF/PM Resigned 01-15-97 to 11-30-97
35 Michael Swiontek FF/PM Resigned 01-15-97 to 01-17-02
## Addel DeJesus FF/PM Resigned 03-03-97 to 12-29-97
36 Michael Cesaretti Lt. Active 08-05-97 to
37 Anthony Hatcher Lt. Active 12-16-97 to
38 Sam Chung FF/PM Active 12-18-97 to
39 Edward Mendelson FF/PM Active 02-25-98 to
40 Christopher Shields FF/PM Retired * 07-01-98 to 04-20-04
41 John Maleady FF/PM Retired * 08-14-98 to 04-10-09
## Shannon Glynn FF/PM Resigned 05-09-99 to 01-05-02
42 John Piculas FF/PM Active 08-22-00 to
## Thomas Novak FF/PM Resigned 12-08-00 to 03-04-01
## Nicholas Chromek FF/PM Resigned 12-21-00 to 06-01-02
## Kenneth Weingart FF/PM Resigned 06-05-01 to 10-14-02
43 Gregory Swiontek FF/PM Active 02-13-02 to
## Daniel Davila FF/PM Resigned 02-13-02 to 03-21-03
44 Gregory Cook FF/PM Resigned 11-01-02 to 01-30-06
45 Brian Rupsis FF/PM Active 12-01-02 to
46 Louis Bertonini FF/PM Active 12-11-02 to
47 Blaine Schneider FF/PM Active 05-06-03 to
48 Theresa Ritchie FF/PM Resigned 06-25-03 to 04-08-06
49 Jeremy Knautz FF/PM Resigned 10-29-03 to 11-04-08
50 Vito Lirosi FF/PM Active 01-28-04 to
51 Brendan Hehir FF/PM Resigned 07-27-04 to 7-31-09
52 Matthew Murray FF/PM Resigned 04-12-06 to 10-18-09
53 Jeffrey Leiser FF/PM Active 05-08-06 to
54 Christopher Sorenson FF/PM Resigned 05-22-07 to 11-23-09
55 Christopher Weglarz FF/PM Resigned 05-12-08 to 10-9-09
## Adam Kuehlman FF/PM Resigned 05-12-08 to 7-14-09
56 Edward Gergits FF/PM Active 08-27-08 to
## Nicholas Michals FF/PM Resigned 10-15-08 to 8-15-09
57 David Farias FF/PM Active 05-04-09 to
58 Collett Hudecek FF/PM Active 05-04-09 to
59 Jeremy Solana FF/PM Active 09-14-09 to
60 Timothy Bubis FF/PM Active 09-18-09 to
61 Nicholas Santiago FF/PM Active 09-22-09 to
## Badge number reissued
* Left job on service related disability.
** Deceased 3/3/00.
*** Deceased 11/26/01.
**** Deceased 1/31/04.
***** Deceased 7/5/05.
******Deceased 4/14/06.