“Job of Le Mars fire chief runs in the family”

Job of Le Mars fire chief runs in the family

Posted: 25 Jun 2010 04:58 PM PDT

LE MARS, Iowa (KTIV) -- After 43 years of fighting fires and saving lives, Le Mars' fire chief is calling it a career.

Wayne Schipper spent 27 years as chief. Thursday night, a couple hundred friends and well-wishers showed up to say ''thanks.''

Schipper says it's been an honor to serve Le Mars, and with about a week left on the job, he's glad to see folks have appreciated his work.

"I'm kind of humbled of this. I'm the kind of person that likes to do the best I can with people that can help you make it succeed and get the mission accomplished," Wayne said.

The man who will step in and lead the department is Schipper's own son, Dave. For the past 17 years, he's worked as a state deputy fire marshal, covering 13 different counties.

Dave says he's looking forward to concentrating on just one town -- especially his hometown --holding up the family tradition.

"It's a homecoming, it really is. And to carry on the tradition and the pride and the ownership with the Le Mars Fire Department. There's been somebody in my family on this department for 100 years, I'm very proud of that," Dave said.

Dave's the fourth generation of Schippers to serve with the fire department. His son is the fifth generation, currently in the high school program.

Online Reporter: Zach Tecklenburg

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