Al Hunter ( Died-2011)

HUNTER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/27/2011 at 22:19:44

Sioux City Journal
15 January 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Al Hunter, 79, of Windsor Heights, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City, passed from this life Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at his home.

Services with firefighter honors will be 11 a.m. Monday at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church, 1240 66th Street, Windsor Heights. Visitation will be Sunday, with the family present 5 to 8 p.m., at Westover Funeral Home in Des Moines.

Al was born in Aberdeen, S.D., graduated from Central High School in 1949, and joined the Aberdeen Fire Department as a sophomore. Al was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a second lieutenant and fire chief in Pusan, Korea, where he oversaw 22 engine companies and trained Pusan and Korean Army firefighters. Al received a citation of valor for his service from the Pusan mayor.

After being honorably discharged, Al relocated to Sioux City, where he attended Morningside College and graduated with a degree in sociology and psychology. After graduation, he worked as a juvenile probation officer for Woodbury County, and then as a caseworker for the Boys and Girls Home and Family Services. During that time, he volunteered for Woodbury County/Municipal Civil Defense Fire-Rescue as a training officer and later hired as operations manager.

Al married Flo Hunter on Dec. 29, 1970. In 1971, Al was appointed as the emergency medical services chief for the State Health Department, where he developed emergency medical training programs across Iowa, including his home town of George, Iowa.

In 1978, he was appointed fire chief of Windsor Heights, the first career fire chief for the department. During his 26-year tenure with the Windsor Heights Fire Department, he trained many firefighters and emergency medical technicians and he also led many classes at the Ames Fire Academy. Upon his retirement, Al was named Windsor Heights Citizen of the Year and inducted into the Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association Hall of Fame in 2008.

He was a member of the Windsor Heights Firefighters Association, Iowa Firefighters Association, Polk County Fire Chiefs Association, Windsor Heights Lions Club, West Des Moines Elks Lodge 2752, and Windsor Heights Lutheran Church.

He will be missed by his loving wife of 40 years, Flo; sister, Maxine Deacon of Las Vegas, Nev.; sons, Jeff Reinders of Sioux City, Tim Reinders (LuAnn) of Des Moines, and Todd Reinders of Des Moines; grandchildren, Christine Reinders of Boston, Mass., Stephanie Reinders of Ames, Iowa, Caitlyn Reinders of Waverly, Iowa, Travis Reinders of Des Moines, Henry Reinders of Waukee, Iowa; niece, Cindy Williams and her children, Austin and Josh of Medford, Ore.; and many other close relatives and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Windsor Heights Fire Department or WesleyLife Hospice.

Al dedicated his life to the development and improvement of emergency and rescue services and firefighter emergency training.