Aurora says goodbye to retired Fire Chief Stevens

Retired Aurora Fire Chief Jerry “Fish” Stevens would turn into a kid again every Christmas, buying toys for children in need and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

His family will spend the holidays without him this season, following his death Nov. 30 at age 67 from complications of pulmonary fibrosis. But his daughter, Vicki Stull, said the memory of Stevens' caring and friendly nature will live on.

“My dad was a fun-loving free spirit,” Stull said. “If he met you once and he liked you, you were his friend for life.”

Family will hold a visitation for Stevens from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Daleiden Mortuary, 220 N. Lake St., Aurora. Aurora firefighters will walk through at 6:30 p.m.

Aurora Fire Chief Hal Carlson said Stevens led by example.

“He worked hard but he expected the same thing from his fellow firefighters,” Carlson said.

Stevens also helped the Aurora Fire Department expand while serving as chief from 1993 to 2002, Carlson said.

The department added three new fire stations and 60 more firefighters, as well as more ambulances and alternative response vehicles during Stevens' tenure.

“He pushed this department up quite a bit, and the thing is, we're still at that level,” Carlson said.

The Aurora Regional Fire Museum also was coming into its own during Stevens' time as fire chief, museum curator David Lewis said.

“What I remember him is as very jovial, fun-loving,” Lewis said. “He was accessible, personable. Not all chiefs are.”

Stevens also served in the U.S. Navy during the Cuban missile crisis.

The Navy will present a flag at 6 p.m. Friday during Stevens' visitation, and Stull said a flag also will be presented to her 14-year-old son, Nicholas, to whom Stevens was a role model.

Stevens was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Dorothy. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Jackie; his daughter, Vicki Stull; his son, Joe; his sister, Judy Thelander; and seven grandchildren.