Fire Hall ceremony honors Rehard: ‘Keeper of the ole fire truck’

More than two dozen friends and family of Duane Rehard gathered at the Bigfork Fire Hall Friday afternoon for the dedication of a plaque to the man known as the “Keeper of the Ole’ Fire Truck.”

Rehard, who passed away in August of last year, spent countless hours restoring and maintaining the Waterous steamer No. 102, Extra 1st Class that was originally drawn by three horses and was attended by a wagon that carried 1,000 feet of hose. The engine was in service from 1899 to 1937.

A fixture as driver of the tractorized engine in the annual Bigfork 4th of July Parade, Rehard was remembered for his passion in keeping the vehicle running.

“Every year after fighting with the Crazy Cold Crank Start Handle to get it running and then wrestling to drive this hunk of iron without power steering down Electric Ave, Duane would say after an exhausting day, ‘This is the last year I do this. I’m getting too dammed old for this nonsense,’ but that Ole Engine was like a magnet attracting him back to its home at Echo Lake Fire Hall every year,” Diane Kautzman said.

The ceremony was filled with recollections of Rehard working hard on the engine and giving rides to family members during the parades over the years.

The plaque honoring Rehard will now reside inside the fire hall.

“August 23 will mark the one-year anniversary of Duane’s death. Bigfork Fire Department is proud to be able to display this plaque for everyone to see and to learn about Duane’s legacy,” Bigfork Fire Chief Jeremy Patton said. “We have lost a wonderful person in body, but we will never lose the memories of his devotion to his family, friends, and this Village which he dearly loved.