Firefighter Lee Sherwood             February 13, 1923

A fire broke out at the First Presbyterian Church at 6th and Pearl on February 13, 1923. Lee Sherwood, a fourteen year veteran with the Joplin Fire Department, became critically injured when he was thrown from a second story window of the church and fell to the sidewalk below. Sherwood died shortly afterward at St Johns Hospital. This unfortunately became the first death for the Joplin Fire Department.

Driver Frank Krudwig             June 26, 1934

   On June 26, 1934, at 2 p.m.,  Joplin Fireman Frank Krudwig was killed driving the Fire Department’s American La France pumper truck. Krudwig was responding to a fire alarm when his truck struck a curb rounding a corner at 4th and Empire. The truck flipper over crushing Krudwig and killing him instantly.  Krudwig held the position of driver and had been with the department since 1926.

Firefighter John Serage     November 7, 1947                                   

John Serage began working for the Joplin Fire Department on April 20, 1940. He was promoted to driver on November 15, 1941. On November 7, 1947,  Serage died on duty from a heart attack

Lt. James Kallenberger            

Lt. James Kallenberger and his fellow firemen made an emergency call to a residence at 1116 South  Jackson. Upon returning to the station,  Lt. Kallenberger suffered a heart attack and died at 10:25 a.m. at St Johns Medical Center.  Lt. Kallenberger began working for the Joplin Fire Department in February of 1965.  He was promoted to driver in 1968 and became Lieutenant in 1971.  Lt. Kallenberger was in charge of Joplin Fire Station No. 2 at 18th and Wall Avenue. 

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