Decatur Fire Department news

Excerpts from herald-review.com:

Firefighter Micah “Bubba” Wakeman, a 16-year veteran of the Decatur Fire Department and a man who dedicated his life to helping others, passed away on June 13 after a tragic tractor rollover accident. He was just 43 years old and left behind a wife and four children. Known for his love of farming and his deep commitment to his community, Bubba’s death sent shockwaves through Mount Pulaski and beyond.

On Tuesday, the fire department honored their fallen brother with a heartfelt farewell. Colleagues from across Central Illinois gathered to pay their respects, forming an honor guard that carried Bubba’s casket out of the church. As he was laid to rest, a slow-motion salute echoed through the air, symbolizing the respect and admiration he had earned over the years.

The funeral procession, which stretched for three miles to Warrensburg, was a powerful display of unity. It included numerous fire, police, and emergency vehicles, with squad cars from both the Decatur Police Department and the Macon County Sheriff’s Office leading the way. A ceremonial arch made of two aerial ladder trucks stood tall, holding a flag that fluttered in the breeze, adding a solemn yet proud touch to the event.

Wakeman’s friend Tracy Dyer described the day as more than a funeral—it was a celebration of a life well lived. “This is not a funeral, this is a celebration… of how one not-so-little man has made an impact here and all over the world,” she said. From Uganda to Haiti, Guatemala to Ukraine, Bubba’s spirit of service reached far beyond his hometown.

A devoted Christian, Bubba spent much of his life on mission trips and also served as a foster parent to children in need. Colleagues and friends remembered him as a caring, hardworking individual who always put others first. His presence was felt everywhere he went, and his absence was deeply felt.

Despite the somber tone, there were moments of laughter and joy as people shared stories of Bubba’s kindness and humor. But beneath the smiles, the grief was real. One particularly touching moment came when 20-year-old daughter Ashton read a message to her father, struggling to find the words to express her feelings. “But the thing I can think to say, and the thing that I think we all need to say, is ‘thank you’… thank you, God, for letting us have some of my daddy in our lives.”

As the service came to a close, a quiet fell over the church. A lone firefighter rang a bell nine times—three sets of three rings—a traditional firefighter salute to bid farewell to a fallen comrade. The sound echoed through the sanctuary, marking the end of a beautiful tribute to a remarkable man.

In a show of solidarity, firefighters from Springfield and Champaign took over fire stations in Decatur so that local firefighters could attend the service. More than 100 active and retired Decatur firefighters were present, standing together in unity to honor their brother.

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