Ex-Fox Lake fire chief dies

Stuart Hoehne, who served on the Fox Lake Fire Department for 44 years and was its chief for 20, died Saturday at his home in the village.

Hoehne, who was 79, also worked in the village's public works department for 21 years, including serving as director from 1978 to 1995, said his son, Ron Hoehne, who is the current fire chief. The senior Hoehne also was on the village's zoning board and in the 1960s served on the village board.

Stuart Hoehne lived in Fox Lake most of his life and had five children.

"He loved to spend time with his family," said Ron Hoehne. "He came from a large family, and he loved Fox Lake - this was home."

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Stuart Hoehne was a 52-year member of the Fox Lake American Legion, and he was renowned in the International Association of Fire Chiefs, said his son.

In 2001, the year Stuart Hoehne retired from the fire department, the village board named a new fire station on Grass Lake Road after him.