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Clarence Ambulance Association and EMT’s

    In October of 1975 the Clarence Lions and a group of concerned citizens proposed buying an ambulance for the Clarence community. It was decided to train nine EMT’s before a fund drive was initiated. They graduated from classes in April of 1976 and a fund drive allowed an ambulance to be purchased and placed into service in October of that year. The Clarence ambulance is somewhat unique in that all major funding comes from private donations from the Clarence-Lowden communities.

    The ambulance service averages 75 calls a year from the area. In May of 1983 it became the 52nd in the state to achieve advanced status and the first in Cedar county to be an EMT-1 service. There is one EMT-A and one EMT-1 on each run enabling the service to provide a high degree of quality care. George H. Utley, M.D. has served as medical director since the service began and played an instrumental part in the service rising to the advanced level.

    The original nine EMT’s were Ron Baltisberger, Keene Hart, Candice and Denny Hulse, Doris Kemmann, Gary Minar, Everett Oetting, Marilyn Pruess and Lee Stresemann.

    Those who have served since then are Brett Baldwin, Harold Meyer, Royce Kemmann, Midge Pruess, Kathy St. John, Jeff Dupier, Joyce Slouha and Margaret Zeigler. Those serving as drivers are Dave Zeigler, John BIcknese, Wayne Syring, Roger Thiele and Leroy Gade. Paul Christophersen and Robert Rouse were taking the class in 1984-85.

    Those now active with the service are Royce and Doris Kemmann, Brett Baldwin, Marilyn Pruess, Gary and Roxann Minar, Bill and Pat Tuel, Lee Stresemann, Kelly Wenndt, Harold Meyer and Gary Schultz. Also aiding the service is the Lowden Rescue unit manned by Joe Wenndt and David Hintz. They are able to provide immediate care to the Lowden area prior to the arrival of the ambulance.