By Laurie O'Connor Stephans
At one time or another, most little boys dream of being a firefighter. For some, that becomes their career path, while others leave it behind with their cowboy and baseball player plans.
Likewise, many kids growing up in a home with a parent who is a church worker often follow some variation of that path, becoming a pastor, youth worker or parochial school teacher.
For Rev. Gerry Schalk, both dreams have come true. And it only took about 50 years to make it happen.
Schalk retired the end of July 2008 after a 20-year pastorate at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Barrington. He had already been serving as chaplain for the Fox River Grove Fire Protection District since November 2006, and asked if he could use his retirement from pastoral ministry as the opportunity to come on as a paid-on-call firefighter/EMT.
“The chief's first line was, ‘well, you're not exactly the right age,'” Schalk says with a smile. Typically the cut-off is 35; he is 61. With the understanding he'd have to go back to school, as well as pass the physical and agility test, Schalk went to work.
“I got my license as an EMT Basic, and on August 1, 2008, I came on the department as a probationary firefighter,” he says. “I'm the world's oldest proby, let me tell you!”
Those who know Schalk are probably not surprised at this latest turn in his lifetime career of serving both his Lord and people. He began his ministry as a Lutheran school teacher, but after 10 years decided to enroll in the seminary and become an ordained pastor. He was pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Prospect Heights, Illinois, then did a stint on the district staff before accepting a call to Barrington. Along the way he was also vice president of the Northern Illinois District's North Region, providing support and encouragement to pastors and lay leaders in about 70 NID congregations. Now he follows another avenue for reaching and serving people -- in the fire department. And when you look at his family history, it all makes sense.
“My dad, Harold, was a full-time, career firefighter,” Schalk explains. “For most of his career, besides working the truck, he worked on the rescue squad, which was the predecessor of our paramedics. And my mom was a Lutheran school teacher.
“I always planned to go into church work,” he adds. “I never really thought about going into fire service. My dad never went to college and was bound and determined that his kids would go. That was part of it. But I grew up around fire stations and know and love fire service. In that way it's a natural fit.”
All that notwithstanding, some may wonder why Schalk would want to begin something like this in retirement.
“In part, I knew how [the Fire Protection District] struggled to have daytime coverage, and as a retired guy I can do that,” he explains. Fire protection in many U.S. communities is provided at least partially by paid-on-call (formerly called volunteer) firefighters. “This really became an opportunity. My health is good and there is no reason I couldn't do this."
“Eunice and I have lived in Fox River Grove 20 years, but because my church was in Barrington, I knew my neighbors and not much else,” he adds. "This also was a chance to get involved in the community.”
In addition to his new role as firefighter/EMT, Schalk also continues to serve as the chaplain for the Fire Protection District and finds that rather than conflict, the roles complement each other very well.
“I often go not as a chaplain but segue into that role once there. For example, I was just on a full-arrest call. I got there and said, ‘we don't need nine people working over this guy on the floor; let me take the family.' I sat with them, knew what we were facing, went to the hospital and did the notification of death. I spent three more hours with the family after that.”
As fire chaplain, Schalk also ministers as needed to the firefighters in the squad. When a new firefighter comes on, Schalk goes over delicate forms such as line of duty death benefits and directives on notification. He also explains his role and opens the door for future counseling or other issues with the firefighters.
“I tell them that if they come to me with something, confidentiality comes off the table in only three situations: if you are putting yourself, a fellow firefighter, or the public in danger.”
In addition to his fellow firefighters and victims, Schalk is also experiencing the anticipated community involvement. He recently participated in an educational luncheon for area seniors. After giving the invocation before lunch, he switched hats (or collars) from pastor to EMT and gave a presentation on stroke signs and prevention. But in reality, he wears all the hats at the same time in this role.
“Those 48 people now know that their fire department has a chaplain,” he explains. “Some may say this doesn't have a lot to do with law and gospel ministry, but for a lot of the people we come in contact with, we have to have that presence. There are people I come in contact with as a firefighter/EMT that I'd never meet from a pulpit in a church.”
As if Schalk isn't busy enough, he taught a Concordia University Wisconsin extension course in Roselle last fall and has been sharing vacancy pastor duties with Rev. Harold Ross at Holy Cross, Cary. Nonetheless he and his wife have been able to make a trip to Europe and are planning another, and he still manages to get in some gardening. Busy or not, Schalk enjoys every minute of it.
“It has been really good,” he says. “I enjoy the department to no end, and it's been a fun experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything.”
People Ablaze is the mission movement of the Northern Illinois District, Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.
