Family, Friends Gather To Remember Fallen Firefighter 'He Would Do It All Again'
DENVER (CBS4)- Family and friends gathered on Tuesday morning to honor a fallen firefighter who succumbed to his injuries after falling through a skylight while fighting a fire.
Funeral services began at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada. Hundreds of firefighters along with elected officials and dignitaries were in attendance.
Denver Firefighter John Whelan was fighting a fire on Blake Street late June 28 when he fell through the skylight of a building.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock gave Whelan's family a hug at the podium during the emotional ceremony. He called Whelan's commitment a sacred one and gave Whelan's son, Jackson, a special award so Jackson would always know just how much the city loves his father.
"John Whelan gave his life on behalf of the the people of Denver. Fifteen years he reported proudly to his house. Fifteen years he experienced the adrenaline rush to go serve and protect," said Hancock.
He died on Wednesday after he went into cardiac arrest.
Whelan, 46, leaves behind a wife and a young son. His death is being investigated as a LODD (line of duty death), meaning an outside firm will investigate and conclude whether any practices or procedures need to be changed.
"When he was on call he did what needed to be done, when he was asked to get on a roof and make sure it was safe, he did it. He lived outside our comfort zones everyday he worked," said Whelan's cousin Susie Wargin.
Denver Fire Chief Eric Tade described Whelan as a role model, one who even Tade's children looked up to.
Those closest to him say Whelan wouldn't want to be remembered as a hero although they say that's exactly what he was.
Whelan loved to fish and watch sports and died as a result of doing his job, but family friends told CBS4 Whelan would answer the same call and do it all over again.
"There is nothing that we do that is 'bread and butter,' nothing that we do is routine, the message that the citizens need to know is that the job that Denver Fire, police and paramedics do on a daily basis is deadly dangerous and it can take your life instantly," said Denver Fire Asst. Chief Tony Gonzalez. "John was just doing what John was trained to do, I talked to John when he was in the hospital and John said that he would do it all over again."
"The entire Colorado community has come forward to support us and the Whelan family and for that I want to say 'Thank you' to the entire community," said Denver Fire Chief Eric Tade.
"He was a fantastic father, he was a fantastic husband, he did not die a hero, he would not be comfortable with that," said Gonzalez.
Funeral services for Whelan were closed to the public. Those who wished to pay their respects lined the 20-mile long processional route that began at Faith Bible Chapel and past Denver Fire Station Number 8 and continued to Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wheat Ridge.
"I wanted to come down and be a part of this," said Aurora Firefighter Barry King. "Even though I didn't know John personally, I felt compelled to come down here and pay my respects."
Those who lined the procession route carried flowers, flats and other tokens of respect to honor Whelan.
"Just to show our support for the Whelan family and the Denver Fire Department family," said a firefighter's wife Rachel Rachbon. "We are so thankful for what the guys do."
Additional Resources
A Memorial Fund for fallen Firefighter John Whelan has been created through the DFD Credit Union and members can deposit or transfer funds into the Memorial Fund Account by calling 303-228-5300. Checks can be made payable to the John Whelan Memorial Fund and deposited or mailed to The DFD Credit Union at 2201 Federal Blvd. Denver, CO. 80211.
