When Springfield Township leaders chose to add a 5K event in their annual Freedom Celebration, they were motivated by a higher purpose. Administrator Mike Hampton suggested, “We wanted to create an event to honor the life of a very special member of our township family.”
On April 22, township officials, fire leaders, colleagues, family members and event sponsors gathered at Homecoming Park to provide event details and announce that registration was open for the inaugural Firecracker 5K Run/Walk, honoring the memory of Pvt. Sterling “Butch” Rahe. The event, included in Springfield Township’s Summer Series 2025, will take place during the community’s day-long Freedom Celebration on Saturday, June 28. Proceeds from the event will benefit firefighter mental health initiatives and scholarships.
Butch, as he was known to all, was a 30-year firefighter who brought his skill and knowledge of the profession— and his dedication to service— to his role as public information officer of the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department. He was just 57 years old at the time of his death on January 1, 2024, which occurred following an on-the-job injury in late 2023. Butch was a member of the Springfield Township Fire Department since 1993, and became a Toledo firefighter in 2000. He served as a paramedic on Life Squads and worked at Stations 16 and 17 “Sure,” said Mr. Hampton, “he may have been the face of the Toledo Fire Department— but he was the heart of our Springfield Township Fire family. He remained active in our department until his death and was a tremendous resource— Butch was there to advise, assist, teach—you name it.”
Media reports following his death reflected that, “The public knew Private Rahe as the person to whom information was attributed in articles about fires, crashes and other incidents handled by the Toledo Fire Department, as the person—often in full gear—in photos or speaking to television cameras from the scene.”
In his obituary, we also learned that Butch was born July 26, 1966, to Mary Ann and Sterling E. Rahe. He was a 1984 graduate of Central Catholic High School. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he served in the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing at Toledo Express Airport. He also served as an airframe and powerplant mechanic in the private sector, as well as an instructor at Owens Community College.
Many reflections were also shared online, most focusing on his devotion to family. We learned that while his work placed him in the public eye, it was his dedication to family— travels, movie dates and time at home with Becky, his wife of 31 years; coaching son, Jon, in baseball and going with him to sporting events; visiting book or video game stores with son, Caleb, and bonding over their interest in technology, and time with Becky’s family, his sisters Jennifer Roytek, Kathleen Brazeau, Amy Swinford, and Molly Rahe and their families who completed his life.
Springfield Township Fire Chief Jonathon Ziehr offered, “You can’t replace someone like Butch Rahe. What you can do, however, is intentionally honor his life, his body of work, his dedication to family and friends… I think Butch would enjoy knowing that the Firecracker 5K was created to honor his memory. He loved being around his fire family, really, people in general. His cameras were always present and he made sure we always had pictures of events—whether from training exercises or actual incidents. Butch loved flying his drone, too, so we’re planning to incorporate as many ‘Butchthings’ into the event as possible. I know his family is working hard to create a variety of ‘Butch Boxes’to raffle during the event. The outpouring of community support for this effort is humbling and appreciated.”
Those wishing to register to run or walk can do so online at runsignup.com. To become a sponsor, volunteer or for more information, contact Kristina White, director of event operations, at events@springfield township.net.
