Frankenmuth

12 In 1980, then 30-year-old Wayne M. Nuechterlein joined the Frankenmuth Fire Department. "In 2020, Wayne turned 70 and although he is beginning to step back from responses to calls, he greatly helps us to train quality engine operators and remains a large part of our department," said Fire Chief Phillip Kerns. "In addition, he has been the department's chief morale booster for 40 continuous years!" Nuechterlein was recently honored by the Saginaw Exchange Club as one of Saginaw County's "Firefighters of the Year" because of his long record of volunteerism and his years of work on the FFD. Kerns explained that although FFD has a history of not distinguishing an individual firefighter for an award — since they work as a team — the honor was an opportunity to highlight Nuechterlein's contributions to the department over the years. Reflecting on his volunteer career, Nuechterlein recalled one of his more memorable times on the Frankenmuth Fire Department as it began early one morning around 12:30 a.m. when his Plectron radio (an in-home alert device) screeched to life announcing a smoking motorhome in a driveway next to a shed. The location was north of Junction (Frankenmuth) Road, on Hart Road. He drove to the fire station and former Fire Captain David Hiles asked if Nuechterlein felt safe to drive the tanker truck. He replied, "Yes" and they headed out on icy Junction Road. As they got closer to Hart Road, Nuechterlein said he began to slow down to make a left onto Hart Road. While turning, Hiles yelled out, "He's going to hit us; he's going to hit us!" And, POW! A car slid up against the truck, which made the fire truck rock back and forth a couple of times. As Nuechterlein tried to straighten out the truck, he looked back and saw the car that hit them going in circles. Once both of the vehicles stopped, he said Dave went to check on the person who was driving the car. Meanwhile, he radioed ahead advising of the situation and asked if they needed water at the scene. They didn't. After safely parking, Nuechterlein walked back to the car that hit them and saw it was nosed into the ditch. "As I got closer on that cold early morning, Dave and the unknown male driver were sitting on the ditch bank smoking a cigarette," he said. "I asked Dave if he smoked and his reply was, 'No, but he offered one and I figured it was a good time to have a smoke.'" Nuechterlein said that Hiles was another example of the fine caliber of volunteers that gave of their time and talents to be one of the community's firefighters. In recognition of a job well done, the Frankenmuth Community hereby salutes Frankenmuth Firefighter Wayne Nuechterlein on his recent honor and thanks him and all members of the FFD for their continued service. In Business Since 1917 Doing It Right Longer 450 N Main Street • Frankenmuth (989)652-6151 • WeissEquipment.com Frankenmuth Firefighter WAYNE NUECHTERLEIN Named Firefighter of the Year

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