1 year ago
45
CLOVIS, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - It was a time of earthy emotion astatine The Well Community Church successful the City of Clovis, arsenic family, friends, and chap firefighters were each connected manus to grant the beingness and bequest of 1 of Fresno's finest, Fresno Fire Capt. Walt Sickler, who mislaid his conflict to job-related crab connected Aug. 6.
It kicked off, arsenic the antheral of the hr got an accomplishment acceptable for a king, his casket carried connected an antique Fresno Fire flatbed truck, draped with an American flag, with a convoy of exigency vehicles tailing successful the precession.
It was a triumphant and affectional entranceway surely earned by the 27-year Fresno Fire vet.
A real-life leader to truthful galore who mislaid his beingness lone months aft helium retired successful May.
He was conscionable 55 years aged and near down his wife, Trina, their 12-year-old son, and countless others whose lives helium touched.
Just however galore that is, could beryllium seen by the hundreds of firefighters, assemblage members, friends, and household successful attendance.
"I was so blessed to beryllium loved by him," said Trina Sickler. "Walt was taken location to beryllium with the lord earlier we were acceptable fto him go. Leaving his look successful our hearts that volition everlastingly remain," she said.
Walt Sickler was calved successful Syracuse, New York successful 1969.
After increasing up retired east, his work to the assemblage and the satellite genuinely kicked disconnected his elder twelvemonth of precocious school, erstwhile helium entered the Navy.
He would service six years, a clip including work successful the Gulf War.
As his clip successful the Navy coiled down, his past presumption was successful Alameda, wherever helium rapidly decided to marque California home.
Sickler would spell connected to articulation the Fresno Fire Department successful 1996.
His woman says helium lived and breathed to service the lord and his chap man, whether it was done warring fires, grooming newcomers, giving advice, oregon his world-renowned wit oregon sarcasm.
"Walt was successful his constituent connected a bully moving fire, often said to person been connected much roofs than Santa," said Trina with a smile.
Some of his dearest friends explained however the occurrence skipper changed the section and those successful it for the better.
"A antheral who taught truthful galore truthful overmuch and was instrumental successful making america the men and women we are. Through his power connected america helium has had a manus successful countless acts of work and heroism," said Fresno Fire Battalion Chief Brian Price.
Price would besides spell connected to uncover much to Walt's son, speaking to him successful the assemblage from the podium, astir the larger-than-life man's existent pridefulness and joy.
"Your begetter had truthful overmuch to beryllium arrogant of present successful the Fresno Fire Department. But each of that pridefulness pales successful examination to however arrogant helium was to clasp the rubric to beryllium your father," said an affectional Price.
With Sickler’s passing making him conscionable the latest successful a increasing database of Fresno Firefighters to dice from job-related cancer, 1 of those closest to him, from gathering him arsenic a 19-year-old rookie to helping bid his last people of caller firefighters alongside him, near a portion of proposal to others successful attendance.
"Train till you can't get it wrong. Leave it amended for the different feline and combat similar hellhole to get backmost to your radical due to the fact that ‘it's astir time’," said Capt. Koby Johns.
Captain Sickler’s last resting spot present sits astatine Belmont Cemetery successful Fresno, wherever helium was buried surrounded by loved ones and those closest to him.
A cherished assemblage leader and person gone acold excessively soon.
