KEARNEY — Fire departments from across central Nebraska took part in the funeral procession of the late Terry Eirich, a longtime firefighter with the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Terry Eirich died at the age of 65 in Kearney after a lengthy battle against cancer. Eirich had served with the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department for 38 years.
“During his fire department career, Terry held every leadership rank in the department, including the rank of Chief between 2010 and 2015. Terry’s greatest passion within the department was training and fire prevention,” according to his obituary.
“Terry loved teaching new firefighters and pioneering modern, advanced fire training for tenured firefighters from all over Nebraska. Terry had a special passion for conducting fire prevention programs and firefighter museum presentations for the youth of Kearney and surrounding communities,” per his obituary.
His funeral service was held at the First United Methodist Church in Kearney. The procession to the grave site at Kearney Cemetery was attended by multiple area fire departments.
Some of the fire departments and organizations that took part included Elm Creek, Cairo, Loup City, Pleasanton, Axtell, the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association, Amherst, Gibbon, Hastings, Upland, Minden, Holdrege, Gosper County, Lexington, Wood River, North Platte and the Nebraska State Fire Marshal.
The Kearney Police Department and Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office also took part in the procession and handled traffic control as the procession made its way to the cemetery.
The CHI Health Good Samaritan Air Care helicopter also flew over the procession on its route.
“Prior to his passing, the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department awarded Terry with the Legacy of Service Award and dedicated their training tower in his name. Terry’s legacy will forever live on in the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department training facility; a place he devoted his life’s work to,” according to his obituary.
Photos by Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today
