2026 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS June/July 2026 Page 25 As chief, Jeckel feels that his biggest accomplishments were working with the trustees, providing new equipment for the firefighters, and recruiting and training EMTs. EMTs are needed as more calls are rescue calls rather than fire calls. For any new members of the district, Earnest hopes they will take the time to learn from veteran members of the squad, take available training, and show up to calls. Rohlfs said he believes Jeckel’s biggest contribution to the department was “his friendship, commitment to the community, and keeping our department moving forward with modern equipment.” Rohlfs shared that he enjoys talking with Jeckel after returning from a call. He especially enjoys the late-night ones. Nick shared, “After a call is over, we’re usually wound up, so we sit at the firehouse, talk about the call, town history, or whatever the subject may be until we wind down.” This shows the connection that Jeckel has fostered between himself and the firefighters over the years. The respect and admiration that the Emden firefighters have for Jeckel is evident when they speak of him. Not only does Earnest have a passion for serving and protecting others, but he has also instilled that passion in multiple generations of volunteer firefighters, making him a true hometown hero. [Joli Boerma Crane]
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzExODA=