A celebration of life was held at the Baltimore Community Centre on Saturday, September 8, 2018 to honour a veteran firefighter, husband, father and grandfather
Ken Jansen succumbed to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) on September 5 and is survived by his wife Irene, children Kimberly Jansen, Kenny Jansen and Bradley Jansen, step children Rick Oliver, Tanya Oliver and 12 grandchildren.
The celebration was held at Baltimore Community Center on Sat from 1-5pm and Jansen’s remains taken there on the fire truck with lights and siren.
Jansen served proudly as a fire fighter for 42 years.
He started and worked his way up to Deputy Chief in Fort Erie Fire Services, and then he retired and the family moved to Cobourg where he joined the department here and gave many more years.
Both of Jansen’s sons are following in their fathers footsteps and are currently firefigters.
Jansen’s son, Kenny said his father was was very active on many different town committees and boards, and he was the most heart-filled and passionate firefighter I have ever known. My father Ken’s father (my grandfather) was also a firefighter with 40 years of service, as well as many of our direct relatives (uncles, cousins) are also firefighters.
At the celebration of life there was fire trucks from Cobourg and Alnwick/Haldimand Township Fire Department.
Firefighters came from Cobourg Fire, Alnwick-Haldimand Fire, Fort Erie Fire, and Niagara Falls Fire to pay their respects.
“I especially want to thank the Cobourg Fire Dept, Northumberland EMS, and the nursing staff in the Palliative Care ward at Northumberland Hills Hospital for all of their care in helping my father.”
“He suffered greatly and died due to ALS,” but his son Kenny added “my father has not hung up his fire gear forever, nor has he taken his last ride in the firetruck today, because he will forever be with me on every single call I go on and forever be leading me.”
“I can’t say strongly enough how much we want to thank my father for the 42 years he gave to the community for his love of the Fire Service. My father gave up countless Christmas’, holidays, weekends and nights so that he could come help others who needed it. I personally watched him sacrifice his entire life to helping others and giving back to the community where he lived.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
