Former Dundee-area firefighter remembered as jokester, family man

A former paramedic for both the East and West Dundee fire departments will be remembered as an outgoing family man who loved to work on motorcycles and cars.

Steven F. Hardy, 54, of East Dundee, was killed in a motorcycle crash in Winnebago County late last month.

His funeral will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Evangelical Church, 310 E. Main St., East Dundee. Visitation is from 4 p.m. until the time of the service.

Hardy earned the rank of lieutenant in East Dundee as a firefighter-paramedic and retired from the department in 1998.

Hardy's son said his father loved being a firefighter.

"He loved helping people," Christopher Hardy, 19, said. "He was a family guy who would do anything for anyone."

East Dundee Lt. Dan Bartelt said Hardy was a mentor to many of the firefighters in the department throughout the nine years he served.

"Up until the day he retired, I learned a lot of stuff from him," Bartelt said. "He was just an incredible guy. He was just a very outgoing guy. If you needed something done, he would get it taken care of right away ... He did a wonderful job and helped a lot guys with certification throughout the years."

After retiring, Hardy worked as a store manager at the Hawks NAPA Auto store in Elgin.

Pam Guetschow, the assistant store manager, described her friend and colleague as a "jokester."

"He was a lot of fun at work and out of work," Guetschow said. "He always had a joke or good story to tell. All in all he was a good person, and his kids meant the world to him."

Police said Hardy lost control of his motorcycle on Sunday, July 25, as he crossed the Kishwaukee River in Cherry Valley. Hardy and a female passenger - who was identified as his 15-year-old daughter, Lauryn - were thrown from the motorcycle after it struck the guard rail. Hardy was pronounced dead at the scene, River Valley police said.

Lauryn was released from OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford earlier this week.