The Springfield Township Fire Department and trustees honored one of their own on Monday. At the January 22 meeting, the trustees issued a proclamation posthumously to the family of firefighter/paramedic Sterling William “Butch” Rahe. The long-time firefighter died on January 1.
In the proclamation, the trustees note that Mr. Rahe was initially hired as a volunteer firefighter on February 28, 1994 and assigned as part-time firefighter/paramedic on September 3, 2004. He was hired full time by Toledo Fire Department in 2000, ending his watch as the department’s public information officer.
“Butch was the face of the fire service, not only for TFRD, but area wide,” the trustees wrote. “He was a mentor, leader and hero having impacted the lives of everyone he encountered.”
The department admired the veteran firefighter who continued to hold a regular parttime shift. “His passion for the fire service was parallel from Toledo to Springfield Township and his experience, passion and leadership cannot be replaced.”
Mr. Rahe’s wife and sons accepted the proclamation. Above, from left are trustees Tom Anderson Jr. and Andy Glenn, Jon and Jacob Rahe flanking their mother Rebecca, and Assistant Fire Chief Dave Moore.
