LEWISTOWN, ILL. -- The man spearheading the effort to rebuild the volunteer fire department here collapsed and died early Saturday following a fire call.
Lewistown Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Donald Lee Grubor, 42, was pronounced dead at Mason District Hospital.
He collapsed at his home about an hour after returning from a working structure fire, said Chief John Spotlow.
His fellow firefighters were on another EMS-related call when they received the dispatch to respond to Grubor's home, the chief said.
He was in cardiac arrest when they arrived. He was transported by Fulton County EMS to the hospital.
Grubor was chairing the committee to build a new fire station to replace the one seriously damaged by fire last July. "He was really moving things along," Spotlow said, adding that the deputy chief was relentless when it came to the project.
"We'll have to pick up and move on," he said.
It's the first line-of-duty death for the department. However, members are still reeling from the death of a retired firefighter two weeks ago.
Fire personnel from neighboring companies will provide coverage to allow Lewistown firefighters to attend the visitation and funeral.
Funeral Information
Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 25 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Henry-Lange Memorial Home in Lewistown.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Lewistown United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Bill Bunnage officiating. Burial will be in Waterford Cemetery in Lewistown.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lewistown Rescue Squad or any charity of the donor's choice.
