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Memorial Service gives full honors to Honorary Asst. Chief Tom Hummel, Sr.
Honorary Asst. Chief Thomas Hummel, Sr., a respected Chardon
volunteer firefighter, local
banker, and community servant, passed away on December 8, 2001 at the age of
62. He had battled a lengthy lung illness. Ironically, fire department personnel
were together when they heard the news of his passing, while attending the
annual department Christmas Party and Awards Ceremony.
The
funeral procession, with full honors, was held on a cold, rainy Friday. The
memorial saw over 75 fire department members from Chardon and surrounding
communities participate. A 1928 Prospect Fire Engine (Chardon's first
engine) carried Tom to his final resting place. The engine was flanked by
Chardon fire department personnel and members from many other departments.
Chardon Fire & Police vehicles were cloaked in black. Painesville City FD and Chardon FD aerial trucks provided a memorial arch for
the procession.
Born
May 14, 1939, Asst. Chief Thomas Hummel, Sr. was a lifelong Chardon resident. He
a faithful member of the Chardon Volunteer Fire Department for over 37
years !! During that time he held positions as Corporation
President, Secretary-Treasurer, First Assistant Chief, and Honorary Assistant
Chief. Tom was a veteran of the Ohio National Guard during the Vietnam
War. He was a member of the original Chardon Village Charter Commission in
1980, and was a member of the Chardon Village Housing Council and Planning
Commission for many years. He was a dedicated community servant and an
upstanding citizen admired by all who knew him.
Hummel's banking
career started with Geauga County National Bank for nine years. He then served
as manager of the Chardon branch of Security Federal Savings and Loan for 28
years. He worked for two years for First County Bank, retiring in Jan.
2000. He also worked for Alvord Insurance Agency for a short time.
He
spent summer vacations in Buckhorn, Ontario, since his youth, a tradition he
carried over to his family to the time of his death. Tom was an avid
history buff of the Civil War and World War II eras, and he loved tinkering with
vintage military weapons and vehicles. Hummel is immediately survived by
his wife Joyce (Bican) Hummel, whom he married in Chardon on July 20,
1963. He is also survived by his daughter, Heidi (Paul) Marks, son Thomas
Jr., who is now Chardon's Asst. Chief (wife-Chris ), sister Holly (husband-Ron), numerous
grandchildren, and a host of other brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews.
His parents, Carl (another former Chardon firefighter) & Elsie are deceased.
Asst.
Chief Thomas Hummel, Sr. will be dearly missed by all of his friends and
colleagues at the Chardon Fire Department. His legacy lives on in the
hearts of those that served with him, as well as in his son,
Tom Hummel, Jr., who is presently walking is his footsteps as Chardon's Asst. Fire Chief, and
full-time
Painesville City fire-medic. Our hearts go out to his family.
A
scholarship fund is being set up in his honor. Donations can be sent to
the address at the bottom of this page.
See related Hummel
News-Herald newspaper article.
For More Information Contact:
Chardon Volunteer Fire Department
110 S. Hambden St. Chardon, OH 44024
Tel: 440-285-4665
FAX: 440-285-8320
Internet: Capt. John Blauch, Webmaster
