Curt Newcomb, who served the West Liberty Fire Department in a number of roles including Fire Chief, was honored Friday night at the West Liberty High School football game as well as Sunday at special services conducted at the West Liberty Community Center.
Newcomb 56, died March 2, but his "celebration of life" visitation and services were not held until Sunday.
West Liberty fire fighters honored Newcomb Sunday with special speeches and presented a memorial bench to the family including his wife, Lisa and three sons, B.J. of Grimes and Sean and Zachary, both of West Liberty. The bench will be placed near the former Rock Island Railroad Depot that is now a museum and part of the Heritage Park Foundation complex. The bench, which has an attached helmet and plaque honoring the dedicated fireman, will be placed along the Heritage walking trail, according to Fire Chief Kirt Sickles.
Sickles spoke at the celebration of life along with assistant chief Tom Christensen and long-time friend of Newcomb, Larry Miller.
Sickles said the former chief "impacted the whole community" and told the family "you don't know how much he's already been missed."
Newcomb served the department as chief from 2000-2009 and also served as assistant chief and trustee with the department along with serving as a member of the ambulance department for the past 35 years.
Sickles said MUSCOM, the emergency alert system for Muscatine County, put out a "Last call for Curt Newcomb" at about 3:30 p.m. that afternoon, "Call for Curt Newcomb. This will be your last call. You no longer need to respond," Sickles said the message came, an emotional moment for everyone present.
Sickles said the Newcomb family appreciated everything the fire department did in honoring Newcomb.
Fire fighters and emergency personnel from all over the area came out to honor their fallen comrade.
Before Friday night's high school football game with Camanche, senior Lake Newton and the Comets honored the WLHS grad with a special salute.