Paul H. "Bud" Boecker, August 14, 2011. Paul started as a firefighter in Naperville, IL in 1952 and joined the Lisle Fire Department as Fire Chief in 1971. Chief Boecker helped turn the volunteer department into a full-time fire department and grew the department to be the first Fire District to be ISO class 1 in the United States. Chief Boecker created dignity from devastation by organizing a response team of fire chiefs to assist in firefighters funerals that hit local fire departments too frequently. On a national level, Chief Boecker served as chairman of the Emergency Management Committee of the International Association of Fire Chiefs for 14 years. He is the author of "Common Sense Disaster Management - Think Big!" program presented at numerous state fire schools. He served as Technical Consultant for three Federal Emergency Management Manuals including "Disaster Planning Guidelines for Fire Chiefs" In May of 2000, Chief Boecker was named the 2nd recipient of the Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership award. On July 2, 2004 he retired from the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District and was named Fire Chief Emeritus. In 2005, the Trustees dedicated Fire Station No. 1 and its headquarters to Fire Chief Emeritus Boecker. He is survived by his wife Sonja J., nee Sinclair; his sons Paul H. (Nancy) Boecker, III and Alex J. "AJ" (Krissie); grandchildren, Paul H., IV, John J. and Alex J. Jr.; his sister, Ann S. Boecker. Visitation will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1101 Kimberly Way, Lisle, IL Thursday August 18, 2011 from 2 to 9 p.m. with fire department honor guard service at 7 p.m. Additional Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. until time of Service at 11 a.m. Interment will be in the Naperville Cemetery. Services are being handled by the Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home & Crematory, 516 S. Washington St., Naperville, IL.
Published in Chicago Tribune on August 16, 2011.