Buffalo Grove fire dept. loses ex-deputy chief

Members of the Buffalo Grove Fire Department served as honor guards Tuesday at the visitation services for their former deputy chief.

Joseph Wieser Sr. served in the fire department for nearly 30 years after having spent six years in the police department, He died Sunday at the age of 75.

Village officials credited Mr. Wieser with being one of the driving forces behind the transition from a volunteer agency to a municipal department.

Mr. Wieser moved with his wife, Barbara, to Buffalo Grove in 1959. Within months, he joined the volunteer police department, after learning about the need for more officers from his neighbor, the former police chief.

In 1967, Mr. Wieser became a volunteer firefighter, once again, his son says, responding to the needs of the community. "When we moved to Buffalo Grove, the closest fire station was at Milwaukee Avenue and Dundee Road in Wheeling," says his son, Joseph Wieser Jr., now a battalion chief with the department. "If there was a freight train coming, you would have to wait for a fire response."

In 1971, he and his fellow volunteer firefighters were in the first paramedic class certified by Dr. Stanley Zydlo, former emergency medicine chairman at Northwest Community Hospital. Shortly after their certification, the Buffalo Grove firefighters responded to the first paramedic call in the Chicago area, Fire Chief Terry Vavra says.

"It was another way in which he could help the community," his son says.

Mr. Wieser moved up the ranks, serving as shift commander and captain, where he oversaw day-to-day operations. He was named acting chief in 1988 after the retirement of Chief Wayne Winter and before Chief Tom Allensbach was named in 1989. He served as deputy chief until 1996, when he retired.

During his nearly 30 years in the department, it changed from its rural, volunteer beginnings to a professional organization with three fire stations and 57 full-time firefighters, paramedics and officers.

"Joe not only witnessed all of it, he was instrumental in changing it," Vavra says.

Subordinates who reported to Wieser concurred, adding that he was well liked and respected.

"He was always listening to ideas," said Dep. Chief Pete Ciecko, "and open to new changes in fire service."

A funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. today at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10 N. Buffalo Grove Road in Buffalo Grove.