After 51 years as a firefighter, Willie Bauernschmitt retires

After 51 years of serving Montrose and the broader community, Willie Bauernschmitt has retired from the Montrose Fire Department. He is one of the longest-serving members of the department.

Bauernschmitt was honored for his years of service at the fire department’s annual fundraising dinner on Saturday, February 4.

At the presentation, Fire Chief Kevin Triplett said that Willie had, since 2008 when reporting was modernized, responded to 2367 calls. Since Willie had joined the fire department 36 years before that, his call responses were very likely over 5000. In addition, said Triplett, he had participated in more than 2500 hours of training.

Also, to honor Bauernschmitt, the Montrose City Council proclaimed February 13 Wilbert (Willie) Bauernschmitt Day.

Early Years

Bauernschmitt, originally from Waconia, and his wife, Joan, from the Montrose area, moved to Montrose in 1967.

“It wasn’t long,” said Willie, “to get me on the fire department.”

In 1972, he was then working nights at a company in Bloomington, and firefighters were needed for any calls during the day. So, on February 6, 1972, Bauernschmitt was voted onto the department.

“Almost all of our calls were for fires, maybe 50 a year,” said Willie. “Back then, we were only trained for fires and had yet to have any medical training.”

Willie added, “Back then, most of the firefighters would drive themselves to any fire because all of our equipment was on the trucks. One or two would drive the trucks, and we would meet them there.”

“Our gear then was rubber coats and hip boots, cold in winter and hot in summer,” remembered Willie. “And we learned from the best fire chiefs, Roy Kreitlow and Howard Thoreson.”

The 1980s

In 1980, Bauernschmitt began working days at the Bloomington company. In 1987, he was voted assistant fire chief and then fire chief and fire warden in 1988. That year, he was also president of the Wright County Fire Chiefs Association. At that same time, the department started planning for new fire trucks.

“In 1988, we ordered our first new pumper, the jaws of life rescue equipment, and Nomex fire coats and pants,” recalled Willie. “The VFW and the Lions Club were very generous donors.”

In the 1980s, the number of calls started to increase, so in 1986, the department members began training with Ridgeview Hospital, now Ridgeview Medical Center, in Waconia. That year, Bauernschmitt became a first responder. All firefighters are now trained first responders, and some are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). In 2022, of the more than 300 calls, nearly 80 percent were for medical. 

Continued Service

Over the years, Bauernschmitt has served as Fire Chief 3, Captain, Fire Warden, Fire Investigator, and CPR Instructor, and he has completed the Wright County Citizen’s Law Enforcement Academy.

Some of his training included handling car accidents, industrial explosions, propane truck accidents, as well as burning buildings.

Since the start of the Top Responders Award in 2015, Bauernschmitt has been a top responder every year, answering more than 73 percent of the calls for service each year since. In 2021, he responded to 84 percent of the calls.

As Fire Chief Triplett said, “Willie has impacted thousands of lives by responding to these calls and answering other calls for help.”

At Montrose Days in 2006, Willie and Joan were honored with the Minneapolis Aquatennial Commodore’s Award, Willie for being a member of the Montrose Fire Department for 35 years and serving on the Montrose Days Committee for 25 years, and Joan for volunteer work at her church and with the Montrose Lioness Club.

Memories

Bauernschmitt shared some memories from his years on the department.

When he first started back in 1972, firefighters were still summoned by a fire whistle on the water tower. In 1981, all firefighters received pagers. The fire barn, now used by the city, was on the north side of Second Avenue South. The new station opened in 1994.

Since Bauernschmitt lives less than a block from the fire barn, he would jump on his bicycle and ride to the station. That bike could always be seen leaning up against the side of his house.

“I would barely get out of my driveway, and Jim Trombley, another firefighter who lived a little farther down the street, would run up behind me and try to scare me. Sometimes, he did,” said Willie. “And, you know, I wore out that bike and needed a new one.”

Bauernschmitt remembers many barn fires over the years.

“Sometimes it was wet hay,” recalled Willie, “and sometimes it would be heat lamps used for young livestock. There aren’t so many of those barn fires anymore.”

Bauernschmitt remembered the many accidents east of Montrose where Highway 12 at one time made a sharp “S” curve under the railroad tracks.

Many of those accidents were serious, but he laughed when he talked about live turkeys escaping from an overturned semi. Another time, it was frozen turkeys. And once a payloader got stuck under the viaduct.

In August of 1988, Bauernschmitt was on the team fighting a house fire when firefighter Erwin Adickes collapsed. Two other firefighters also collapsed in the heat, but recovered after being treated at the hospital. Adickes had suffered a heart attack, but did recover and was able to rejoin the department at a later time.

“That was hard,” said Willie. “We were battling the house fire and had to see to our own men at the same time. We were so glad that everything turned out all right.”

Bauernschmitt remembers being injured only once.

“That was in 1983 when the Duske barn was burned to make way for widening Highway 12 east of town,” said Willie. “Some hot clinkers fell on my shoulder under my coat. But I was ok.”

And, Bauernschmitt was part of the team that delivered two babies, one in a bathroom and one on the steps coming out of a garage.

In 2011, he received a Life Saver Award for resuscitating a victim of cardiac arrest.

Plaque of Thanks

Said Triplett, at the end of the presentation, “I, like many others on this department, have looked up to you over the years, and you have been a great friend, mentor, fatherly figure, and grandfatherly figure to so many. You will be greatly missed around the fire station, and I hope you stop by often.”

Bauernschmitt was then honored with a plaque that reads:

“In recognition of your 51 years of commitment and dedicated, continuous service to the Montrose Fire Department. This is an extraordinary accomplishment. You have our gratitude and appreciation for the long hours and years of volunteer service you have given your community, keeping our families and friends safe. Your loyalty, integrity and courage has made a lasting impact on our department and has set an example for others to emulate. Thank you for your service and all the memories we share. Best wishes in your retirement. You will remain a part of our history.”