SOUTH BEND, IN—Capt. David "Dutch" Koehler, a veteran firefighter who served the department in a variety of capacities for more than three decades, died on Wednesday evening.
Koehler, 55, had been diagnosed with brain cancer in 2016, and was able to return to work after his initial surgery and rehabilitation. After suffering a recurrence earlier this year, Koehler remained with the fire department and was reassigned to desk duty.
South Bend Fire Department Chief Steve Cox said that typified the kind of commitment that Koehler brought to his job.
“Dutch was a very strong “firemen’s” firefighter who loved to train and would never give up under any circumstance," Cox said in a statement. "Capt. Koehler's’ legacy will live on with the example he displayed daily on the fire ground and at the station.”
Koehler was a graduate of LaSalle High School. An avid outdoorsman, he participated in a variety of sports and particularly loved swimming. Koehler joined the South Bend Fire Department in 1987, and served on the Swift Water and Technical Rescue teams. He also served as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and was the lead instructor for the Indiana River Rescue School in South Bend.
Koehler served the city of South Bend at multiple stations throughout his tenure, but spent the majority of his career on the west side at Fire Station 4 on Olive Street.
Viewing will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13 at the Saint Joseph Parish Gymnasium, 216 N. Hill St., South Bend.
Full honors funeral with Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14 at the Saint Joseph Church, 226 N. Hill St., South Bend.
A procession will follow the Mass and a traffic update will be released soon.
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