SWANTON, OHIO -- She dedicated her life to help others. She saved lives as part of Swanton's rescue squad for 25 years, and after answering her last call at age 81, she served meals and taught CPR classes in Swanton's schools. On Friday, the community Genevieve Rinkel served for so long said goodbye with a full firefighter funeral.
The woman that everyone in Swanton knew as "Gerrie" died Sunday at the age of 88. Gerrie first joined the Swanton Volunteer Rescue Squad in 1974, and worked as an emergency medical technician until 1999, spanning three decades.
On Friday, traffic through the small town of Swanton stopped as a special funeral procession travelled along Main Street. Swanton's Engine 7 carried Gerrie's coffin under an arch formed by two aerial ladder trucks. People stood along the side of the road to pay their respects.
Many people in Swanton say there's no doubt that Gerrie will be missed. "Rescue squad was a very big passion for her," said Joe Kahl as he watched the procession. "I got an opportunity to work with her a little bit. I was one of many people that she instructed CPR to, and she was just a great person." Kahl was a teacher and coach in Swanton schools, where Gerrie worked as a cook and teacher after retiring from the rescue squad.
Gerrie was one of the first women to work as an EMT in Fulton County, but her co-workers didn't really think of her as breaking new ground. She was simply a member of their family. "I don't know if anybody looked at it that was around here. She was a very strong willed person. When she had an opinion you listened to her, and you never thought much about the fact she was a female," said Kahl. "It was not an issue."
Gerrie leaves behind 2 daughters, 3 sons, 9 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, as well as 4 great-great grandchildren. The family is asking for any tributes to go to the Swanton Fire Department, or to Assistance Dogs of America.
Swanton Fire Department 219 Chestnut St. Swanton,OH 43558
On the Web: Assistance Dogs of America, Inc.: http://www.adai.org
