Terry Meiners and Hayley Minogue host
The WHAS Crusade for Children’s annual year-end special, “Building the Future”, will air on WHAS11 Saturday, December 11th at 6:30pm. It’s hosted by Terry Meiners from NewsRadio 840 WHAS and Hayley Minogue of WHAS11 News.
Hear from experts
It’s a special about the Crusade Endowment. You’ll hear from financial experts on the many ways you can help the WHAS Crusade for Children in your will and estate planning.
See your donations helping
You’ll meet some of the children with special needs your donations help. And you’ll learn about the many ways to give and how you can make a difference in the life of a child.
The endowment is critical every year, but even more so during this pandemic.
The 30-minute program will air multiple times on WHAS11:
Saturday, December 11 at 6:30pm
Saturday, December 25 at 1:00pm
Sunday, December 26 at 5:30am
A special 60-minute version will air multiple times on NewsRadio 840 WHAS:
Friday, December 24 at 4:00pm
Saturday, December 25 at 6:00am
Saturday, December 25 at Noon
Watch it now on YouTube
There are many ways to make a year-end donation
By phone
Call 502-582-7706, leave your name and number, someone will get back to you.
Donate by Mail
Send your donation to:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202.
Please be sure to make note if the donation is in honor or memory of someone or if you’d like to give credit to a certain fire department.
Donate Securely Online
Give online safely and securely. There is a section where someone can honor/memorialize a loved one or credit a fire department.
Venmo
Venmo a donation to @CrusadeForChildren. You can credit your fire department in the comments section.
Cash App
Just like Venmo, use Cash App and make a secure donation to $CrusadeChildren. You can credit your fire dept. in the notes section.
Paypal
If you use PayPal, you can use it to donate to the WHAS Crusade for Children!
Alexa
If you have an Amazon smart device, just say, “Alexa, donate to the Crusade for Children…” and Alexa will walk you through your secure donation, charging it to your card on file with Amazon.
Donate via Facebook
Go to the Crusade’s Facebook page to donate securely online. Facebook does not keep any fees for a charitable donation!
Donations are tax deductible
The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts are tax deductible as permitted by law. EIN #23-7075524.
After a 20-year career serving his community, preceded by decades of volunteering, firefighter Jack Miller retired from the Buechel Fire Department in 2010 on a Friday.
On the following Monday, he showed back up at work to continue his career as a volunteer.
Miller is the longest-serving firefighter in the county, celebrating fifty years of serving, teaching, and saving lives.
We talked with Kate Nason about her 10th Frogtown Hop and how grateful she is for everything associated with the event. Check out Kate’s interview plus her run today and her great finish with cheers from everyone. Thanks to Highview Fire Protection District for all of your support and help today to make sure this event was so successful!!
2021 Crusade Grants Announced
The WHAS Crusade for Children announces its grants for 2021 – 2022. 225 grants have been awarded totaling $5,100,000. That matches the tote board at the conclusion of the 68th annual WHAS Crusade for Children which took place on June 5 – 6, 2021.
Grant funds become available as the Crusade for Children begins a new fiscal year on September 1, 2021.
“Thanks to the tremendous support of the community, we are so excited Crusade 68 raised $5,100,000 which will be awarded in 225 grants this year. With over $11 million in requests, the board of ministers, rabbis and priests who make the funding allocations had some difficult decisions. Their job was made even tougher these past two years because the pandemic has created needs they want to fully fund. They did a great job selecting terrific projects and programs that will make life better for children with special needs across Kentucky and southern Indiana, ranging from small communication devices to large capital projects,” said WHAS Crusade for Children President & CEO Dawn Lee.
100% for the kids
The Crusade reached a milestone this year of $200 million raised for children with special needs since 1954. One hundred percent of all donations raised are returned in the form of grants to agencies, hospitals and schools that provide direct services and make life better for children with special needs.
It takes a cast of thousands for this annual miracle, from individual donors dropping pocket change into boots at firefighter roadblocks to schools hosting penny challenges to corporations offering payroll deduction.
Click here to learn more about the WHAS Crusade for Children grant process.
Click here to see a recap of the 2021 68th annual WHAS Crusade for Children.
SEE HUNDREDS OF PHOTOS FROM CRUSADE WEEKEND ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, CLICK HERE.
2021-2022 GRANTS LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Adair County Board of Education $39,000.00
Allegro Dance Project $5,000.00
American Printing House for the Blind $9,000.00
American Red Cross Kentucky $9,000.00
Americana Community Center $8,000.00
Anchorage Independent School District $25,000.00
Appalachian Regional Healthcare $14,500.00
Arc of the Greater Louisville Area $8,000.00
Archdiocese of Louisville $41,000.00
Art Center of the Bluegrass $2,500.00
Asbury University $20,000.00
Baptist Health Foundation – Louisville $100,000.00
Baptist Health Foundation – Madisonville $10,000.00
Baptist Health Foundation – Paducah $15,000.00
Bardstown Independent Schools $12,495.00
Barren Heights Christian Retreat $10,000.00
Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center $10,000.00
Bath County Schools $10,000.00
Bellarmine University – Kids on the Move $75,000.00
Bellarmine University – Scholarships $18,000.00
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest $12,000.00
Best Buddies International $6,000.00
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana $7,000.00
Bluegrass Center for Autism $30,000.00
Bluegrass Therapy and Equine Center $4,000.00
Boone County Public Schools $18,000.00
Borden-Henryville School Corporation $10,000.00
Boy Scouts of America – Lincoln Heritage Council $12,000.00
Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana $15,000.00
Breckinridge County Board of Education $25,000.00
Bullitt County Public Schools $30,000.00
Burgin Board of Education $21,000.00
Camp Tessa $5,000.00
Camp Tessa of Meade County $4,000.00
Campbellsville Independent Schools $14,000.00
CASA at Woodlawn (of the Bluegrass) $6,000.00
CASA by the Lakes $7,000.00
CASA of Lexington $14,000.00
CASA of South Central Kentucky $5,000.00
CASA of the Heartland $10,000.00
CASA of the River Region $5,000.00
CASA Program For Bullitt County $16,000.00
Central Kentucky Education Cooperative $36,000.00
Cerebral Palsy KIDS Center for Pediatric Therapies $20,000.00
Child Development Centers of the Bluegrass $2,000.00
Clark County Youth Shelter & Family Services $15,000.00
Cloverport Independent School District $50,000.00
Commonwealth Health Foundation Medical Center Health Foundation $10,000.00
Commonwealth Theatre Center $5,600.00
Communities In Schools of Clark County $9,500.00
Community Action of Southern Indiana $21,000.00
Critically Loved $4,000.00
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation $4,000.00
Deaf Youth Sports Festival $13,000.00
Dorman Preschool Center $21,000.00
Down Syndrome Association of Central Ky $8,000.00
Down Syndrome of Louisville $18,000.00
Down Syndrome of South Central Kentucky $7,000.00
Dreams With Wings $7,000.00
Dyslexia Association of the Pennyrile $2,100.00
Easter Seals West Kentucky $2,000.00
Eastern Kentucky University – Developmental Disabilities Clinic Autism Social Groups $5,600.00
Eastern Kentucky University – Special Education Scholarships $21,000.00
Eminence Independent Schools $23,000.00
Englishton Park Children’s Summer Camp Program $4,500.00
Exploited Children’s Help Organization of Greater Louisville $10,250.00
Family & Children’s Place $26,000.00
Family Ark $16,000.00
Family Enrichment Center $6,500.00
Family Scholar House $13,000.00
Father Maloney’s Boys & Girls Haven $74,000.00
FEAT of Louisville $13,500.00
First Chance Center $22,000.00
Flaget Memorial Hospital $21,819.00
Floyd Memorial Foundation $33,626.00
Franklin County Schools $14,000.00
Friends School $30,000.00
Fund For The Arts $8,500.00
Gateway Children’s Services $1,197.00
Gateway Community Action $4,500.00
Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana $12,000.00
Graves County Board of Education $14,000.00
Grayson County Schools $14,000.00
Greater Clark County Schools $20,000.00
Green County Board of Education $14,300.00
Green Hill Therapy $26,000.00
Green River Regional Educational Cooperative $7,700.00
Hancock County Public Schools $6,000.00
Harbor House of Louisville $10,000.00
Hardin County Schools Special Ed Dept. $40,000.00
Hardin Memorial Hospital Foundation $88,000.00
Harrison County Exceptional Learners Coop $16,000.00
Hart County Board of Education $15,000.00
Henderson County Schools $28,000.00
Henry County Public Schools $35,000.00
Heuser Hearing & Language Academy $21,000.00
Home of the Innocents $127,400.00
Hosparus Health $40,000.00
Hospice of the Bluegrass – Bluegrass Care Navigators $8,000.00
I Would Rather Be Reading $7,500.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Autism Program $7,000.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program $7,500.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Early Childhood Special Services $5,500.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – ECE Assistive Technology Center $63,000.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – ECE Psychological Services $22,500.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – ECE Transition Services $4,500.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – ECE Visually Impaired $14,000.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Exceptional Child Education (ECE) Communication Disorders Program $9,000.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Moderate to Severe Disabilities $65,000.00
Jefferson County Public Schools – Occupational and Physical Therapy $50,000.00
Jeffersonville Township Public Library $3,000.00
Jennings County School Corporation $6,500.00
Jessamine County Schools $4,000.00
Jewish Community of Louisville $63,000.00
Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana $2,650.00
Kendyl And Friends Foundation $20,000.00
Kentuckiana Children’s Center $20,000.00
Kentucky Center For Special Children’s Services – Carriage House Educational Services $65,000.00
Kentucky Dance Council – Louisville Ballet $5,000.00
Kentucky Easter Seal Society – Cardinal Hill $1,696.52
Kentucky Ed Development Corporation $8,000.00
Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation $6,000.00
Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation $14,000.00
Kentucky School for the Deaf $15,000.00
Kids Cancer Alliance – Indian Summer Oncology Camp” $10,000.00
Kore Academy $5,500.00
La Casita Center $7,500.00
Lake Cumberland Community Action $7,000.00
LaRue County Public Schools $4,000.00
Lexington Hearing And Speech Center $6,000.00
LifeSpring Health Systems $2,766.00
Lighthouse Academy at Newburg $3,500.00
Louisville Central Community Center – Mini-Versity Child Development Center $21,000.00
Madison Area Educational Special Service $6,000.00
Madison Consolidated Schools $30,000.00
Make-A-Wish Foundation $9,000.00
Marion County Board of Education $48,148.00
Maryhurst $25,000.00
Masonic Home – Sproutlings Pediatric Day Care & Preschool $2,525.00
Meade County Public Schools $37,000.00
Meredith-Dunn School $20,000.00
Miracle Dancer Scholarship Foundation $10,500.00
Miracle League of Louisville $33,000.00
Mission Hope For Kids $4,000.00
Montgomery County School District $30,000.00
Mountain Comprehensive Care Center $7,000.00
Nativity Academy At St Boniface $27,000.00
NELCASA $12,000.00
Nelson County Schools $13,000.00
New Albany Floyd County School $31,000.00
New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding $10,000.00
Newport Independent Schools $12,000.00
Northern Kentucky Children’s Law Center $12,000.00
Northern Kentucky Cooperative For Educational Services $3,500.00
Norton Children’s Hospital – Epilepsy Equipment $280,111.10
Norton Children’s Medical Group – Autism Services $58,000.00
Norton Children’s Medical Group – Pediatrics Nutrition Program $48,000.00
Norton Children’s Medical Group – Learning and Attention Disorders Clinic $55,000.00
Oldham County Board of Education $60,000.00
Orchid House – Marty’s Orchid House $10,000.00
Our Lady of Providence High School $16,000.00
Owen County School District $5,000.00
Owensboro Dance Theater $14,000.00
Owensboro Health Foundation $15,000.00
Paoli Community School (Throop Elementary) $45,000.00
Paws With Purpose $19,000.00
Personal Counseling Service $20,000.00
Personal Counseling Service – Capital $45,000.00
Pitt Academy $8,030.78
Project Camp – The Center for Courageous Kids $40,000.00
Providence House Family Preservation $13,000.00
Puzzle Pieces $18,000.00
Rachel’s Fun For Everyone Project $12,000.00
Rauch $14,000.00
Riley Children’s Foundation $6,000.00
Rockcastle Regional Hospital & Respiratory Care Center $30,000.00
SAFY of Kentucky $3,000.00
Saint Joseph Berea Hospital Foundation $19,500.00
Saint Joseph London Foundation $40,000.00
Saint Joseph Mount Sterling Foundation $47,000.00
Seven Counties Services $148,500.00
Shelby County Public Schools $74,000.00
Silver Creek School Corporation $20,000.00
South Central Area Special Education Cooperative $13,250.00
South Central Kentucky Kids On The Block $2,487.00
Spencer County Public Schools $30,000.00
Spina Bifida Association of Kentucky – Kosair Charities Center $15,000.00
St. Francis High School $18,800.00
St. Joseph’s Catholic Orphan Society $25,000.00
St. Joseph’s Catholic Orphan Society Capital Campaign $50,000.00
St. Joseph Hospital Foundation – The Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East $24,000.00
St. Vincent de Paul Louisville $15,000.00
Stage One The Louisville Children’s Theatre $6,000.00
Summit Academy of Greater Louisville $15,000.00
Sunrise Children’s Services $16,000.00
T J Samson Community Hospital $46,600.00
Taylor County Board of Education $45,000.00
The de Paul School $25,000.00
The Morton Center $25,000.00
The REATH Center $7,000.00
UK Research Foundation $60,000.00
University of Louisville – Peace Hospital – Partial Capital $18,041.00
University of Louisville – Special Education Scholarships $20,000.00
University of Louisville – Health Knowledge and Self-Advocacy $20,500.00
University of Louisville – Hospital Center for Women & Infants $110,000.00
University of Louisville – Psychology $20,500.00
University of Louisville – Pediatric NeuroRecovery Program $50,000.00
Vincennes Community School Corporation $13,500.00
Visually Impaired Preschoolers Services – Indianapolis $58,000.00
Visually Impaired Preschoolers Services – Lexington $50,000.00
Visually Impaired Preschoolers Services – Louisville $95,000.00
Volunteers of America Mid-States $35,000.00
Washington County Schools $10,000.00
Wayne County Hospital $1,634.27
Wendell Fosters Campus For Developmental Disabilities $5,700.00
Western Kentucky University – Kelly Autism Program $25,000.00
Western Kentucky University – Scholarships $23,000.00
Western Kentucky University – Renshaw Early Childhood Center $40,000.00
Whitley County Board of Education $1,701.33
Wilderness Trace Child Development Center $7,072.00
Woodford County Public Schools $9,000.00
Young Men’s Christian Association of Greater Louisville (YMCA) $40,000.00
Youth Advocate Programs $9,000.00
Youth Ethics And Skills Center $6,700.00
Youthbuild Louisville $5,000.00
Total: $5,100,000.00
You can still donate!
It’s always Crusade season. Donate now to help change a child’s life.
Donate By phone
Call 502-582-7706
Donate by Mail
Even though our office is closed for now during the pandemic, we are able to access our mail.
Send your donation to:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202.
Please be sure to make note if the donation is in honor or memory of someone or if you’d like to give credit to a certain fire department.
Donate Securely Online
Give online safely and securely. There is a section where someone can honor/memorialize a loved one or credit a fire department.
Text to Donate
Supporters can now text CRUSADE to 50155 to complete a donation. There is the ability to honor a fire department on the donation link.
Venmo
Venmo a donation to @CrusadeForChildren. You can credit your fire department in the comments section.
Cash App
Just like Venmo, use Cash App and make a secure donation to $CrusadeChildren. You can credit your fire dept. in the notes section.
Paypal
If you use PayPal, you can use it to donate to the WHAS Crusade for Children!
Alexa
If you have an Amazon smart device, just say, “Alexa, donate to the Crusade for Children…” and Alexa will walk you through your secure donation, charging it to your card on file with Amazon.
Donate via Facebook
Go to the Crusade’s Facebook page to donate securely online. Facebook does not keep any fees for a charitable donation!
Donations are tax deductible
The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts are tax deductible as permitted by law. EIN #23-7075524.
Together we continue to make life better for children with special needs. Every penny counts. You can can change a child’s life.
Thank you for making this season bright for many families in Kentucky and Indiana!
Posted by WHAS Crusade for Children on Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Longtime Jeffersontown Fire Chief Bob Gaddie passed away this week. Here’s his obituary from the Courier-Journal:
Robert “Bob” Hope Gaddie, 85, of Jeffersontown, entered Eternal Life on Monday, January 4, 2021.
Bob was born on November 11, 1935 to the late John and Gladys Carrithers Gaddie and was a retired Fire Chief of the Jeffersontown Fire Protection District.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, Mary Alice, his parents, and sister, Geraldine Tamme.
Bob was a member of the Taylorsville Masonic Lodge #210 and Kosair Shrine Temple. He enjoyed his cabin at the lake, fishing, being with his family, working with his hands, and helping people in general. He loved socializing and never met a stranger.
He was proud to be a firefighter joining in 1958 as a volunteer and serving as Chief from 1964 to 1996. He was a leader and mentor to many, served his community, and was dedicated to the fire service.
One of the first lime-yellow fire trucks in Jefferson County, if not the whole state, was purchased while Bob was Chief. He picked up that truck in April of 1973 and drove it about 800 miles from Elmira, NY saying that it did fine on its maiden voyage. He believed the light color was highly visible and was a safety factor. The color affectionately became known as “Gaddie Green”.
During his career he was heavily involved with the WHAS Crusade for Children, a longtime Kentucky Fire School Instructor, and served as an original member and vice-chair on the Governor’s Fire Commission under four Governors. His legislative efforts through his many years of service enhanced the benefits for firefighters and every department in the Commonwealth. He was also one of the few to serve as a two-time President of the Kentucky Firefighters Association in 1978-79 and 1988-89. Bob became a member of the KFA Hall of Fame in 2004.
Left to cherish his memory is his son, Robbie Gaddie (Stephanie); daughter, Amanda Ragland (Tony); grandchildren, Benjamin and Matthew Ragland; brothers, Ronnie Gaddie (Sarah), John Mark Gaddie (Joyce) and sister, Mary Lou Florence (Billy).
Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 7, 2021, 2 to 8 pm, at Ratterman and Sons Funeral Home, 10600 Taylorsville Road, Jeffersontown, KY. The Funeral Service will be 11 am Friday, January 8. 2021 at the Funeral Home followed by burial at Resthaven Cemetery.
The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to the WHAS Crusade for Children in Bob’s name.
From the Nelson County Gazette, December 30, 2020:
Obituary: Ronnie Dewayne Bobblett, 72, Bloomfield
Ronnie Dewayne Bobblett, 72, of Bloomfield, died Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, at his home. He was born in Washington County on Aug. 31, 1948, to the late Wilmer Leon and Ethel Hill Bobblett. He was a member of the Willisburg Church Of God Of Prophecy; a retired employee of the General Electric Company; the former Mayor of Bloomfield; retired fire chief of the Northeast Nelson Fire Department; and served as the regional coordinator for the WHAS Crusade For Children.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly Young Bobblett (March 30, 2005).
Survivors include his one son, Kevin Bobblett (Missy) of Willisburg; one sister, Veda Spalding (Herman) of Bardstown; one brother, Charles Bobblett (Peggy) of Chaplin; one grandson, Hunter Bobblett; two nieces, Adrienne Berry (Sammy) and their children, Emma and Graham; Amanda Bright (Derrick) and their children, Reagan and Bode; two nephews, Chris Bobblett (Jeanette) and their children, Logan, Cole and Solomon; Josh Bobblett (Vanessa) and their children, Caleb and Jacobi.
The funeral is 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 at the Willisburg Church Of God Of Prophecy with the Rev. Keith Creech, the church pastor, officiating. Burial is in the Evergreen Cemetery at Willisburg.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 1, 2020, at the church.
Serving as pallbearers will be Chris Bobblett, Josh Bobblett, Adrienne Berry, Amanda Bright, Dee Meeks, Matt Baenziger, Terry Scrogham and Tim Scroghan.
Carey & Son Funeral Home in Springfield is in charge of arrangements.
There are many ways to make a year-end donation
By phone
Call 502-582-7706, leave your name and number, someone will get back to you.
Donate by Mail
Even though our office is closed for now during the pandemic, we are able to access our mail.
Send your donation to:
WHAS Crusade for Children
520 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY 40202.
Please be sure to make note if the donation is in honor or memory of someone or if you’d like to give credit to a certain fire department.
Donate Securely Online
Give online safely and securely. There is a section where someone can honor/memorialize a loved one or credit a fire department.
Text to Donate
Supporters can now text CRUSADE to 50155 to complete a donation. There is the ability to honor a fire department on the donation link.
Venmo
Venmo a donation to @CrusadeForChildren. You can credit your fire department in the comments section.
Cash App
Just like Venmo, use Cash App and make a secure donation to $CrusadeChildren. You can credit your fire dept. in the notes section.
Paypal
If you use PayPal, you can use it to donate to the WHAS Crusade for Children!
Alexa
If you have an Amazon smart device, just say, “Alexa, donate to the Crusade for Children…” and Alexa will walk you through your secure donation, charging it to your card on file with Amazon.
Donate via Facebook
Go to the Crusade’s Facebook page to donate securely online. Facebook does not keep any fees for a charitable donation!
Donations are tax deductible
The WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity. Gifts are tax deductible as permitted by law. EIN #23-7075524.
Watch the Crusade’s year-end special
The WHAS Crusade for Children’s annual year-end special, “Building the Future”, is on YouTube right now (see embedded video above). It’s hosted by 840 WHAS radio’s Terry Meiners and Kristin Goodwillie of WHAS11 News.
It’s a special about the Crusade Endowment. You’ll hear from the son of a broadcast legend, a young Kentucky transplant now living in California, and from investment experts who all agree: it is a great time of year to help ensure that the WHAS Crusade for Children thrives in the midst of a pandemic. You’ll learn about the many ways to give and how you can make a difference in the life of a child.
The endowment is critical every year, but even more so during this pandemic.
The 30-minute program will air on WHAS11:
Sunday, January 3 at 5:30am
From the Courier-Journal, December 11th:
Louisville – Leonard E. Heydt, 75 of Louisville passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2020.
He was a Western Kentucky University graduate. Leonard dedicated forty years of his life as a firefighter. He started his career as a volunteer firefighter and was later an Assistant Chief. He was appointed Fire Chief for the Harrods Creek Fire Department in 1974, and served in that position for twenty-seven years. Leonard also served as president of the Jefferson County Fire Chiefs Association for multiple terms.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Marie Heydt.
Leonard is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Marilee J. Heydt, his sisters, Pamela Heydt and Marianne Heydt Bosco (Charles), nieces, nephews and numerous friends.
Visitation will be at Arch L. Heady & Son at Westport Village, 7410 Westport Rd. and the Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Leonard Catholic Church with entombment to follow at Resthaven Mausoleum.
Due to coronavirus restrictions the visitation, funeral mass and cemetery service will be private. Those who would like to honor Chief Heydt may join his funeral procession to the church, leaving the funeral home at 9:30 am on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 and after the church service to the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the WHAS Crusade for Children at www.whascrusade.org
To sign the online guestbook or leave condolences for the family, please visit us at www.archlheadywestport.com
Zoneton Fire Chief Rob Orkies dies
From the Courier-Journal, December 14th:
Shepherdsville – Chief Robert Lee Orkies, age 55, of Shepherdsville returned to his Heavenly Father on December 11, 2020 from a brief line of duty illness. Chief Orkies was born on April 8, 1965 in Louisville, KY to the late Bill and Patricia (Russell) Orkies.
Rob was a dedicated public servant who loved being with his family and always encouraged his firefighters that “family comes first.” He enjoyed fishing, camping, telling old stories, and serving his community. He lived life to the fullest and his compassion was larger than life.
Chief Orkies was a community-oriented Fire Chief. The WHAS Crusade for Children, the Zoneton Fire District Halloween Program and the Zoneton Santa fire truck were his passion and proudest accomplishments. He endured many cold nights on top of the Santa truck and wore countless goofy Halloween costumes just to bring pride and joy to the citizens of Zoneton.
Chief Orkies began his fire service career at the Okolona Fire Department in 1984, rising to the rank of Captain. He returned to his home community of Zoneton, joining the fire district there in 1994 as a volunteer. He was hired by the former Edgewood Fire Protection District as its Fire Chief. He was later hired as full time Zoneton Fire Chief in 2003.
Rob never met a stranger and was a friend to all in Bullitt County. He was highly respected for his fire service leadership. Most importantly, he will always be remembered as a kind, gentle, caring, and generous person that could light up any room with his warm smile and kind heart.
He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 35 years, Billie Jo (Goins) Orkies; son, Patrick Orkies (Sabrina); daughter, Trish Jackson (Chaz); granddaughters, Preslie Orkies and Rylee Jackson; sisters, Karen Rodgers (Jimmy), Alice Corley (Rick), Sherri Colwell (Ed) and Patti Tolle (David); stepmom, Beatrice Orkies; stepsisters, Mary Ann Brown (Tony) and Jennifer Lynch; in-laws, Bill and Linda Goins; brother-in-law, David Goins (Amanda); and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral service with full fire service honors will be conducted at 11 am on Friday, December 18, 2020 at Okolona Christian Church (10801 Faithful Way) with interment in Brookland Cemetery. Family and friends may pay their respects on Wednesday from 11-8 and Thursday from 12-8 at Schoppenhorst, Underwood and Brooks Funeral Home (Preston Highway at Brooks Road). Expressions of sympathy may be made to the WHAS Crusade for Children in honor of Zoneton Fire District. www.subfuneralhome.com
Zoneton fire chief dies after fight with cancer, COVID-19
From WHAS11.com, December 11th:
A week into his cancer treatments, Chief Rob Orkies tested positive for COVID-19 and was later placed on a ventilator.
Zoneton Fire Chief Rob Orkies has passed away following his battle with both cancer and COVID-19.
Rich Carlson with Zoneton Fire said Orkies passed died Friday. A procession will escort Orkies from Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital to Schoppenhorst Funeral Home.
“He was respected by all who knew him,” Carlson said. “All of us are deeply saddened by his death. Our condolences and prayers go out to his family and friends.”
Capt. Steven Corbin said Orkies was like a father to many guys in the department. Firefighters created a fundraiser for the Orkies family with t-shirts that read, “In this family, no one fights alone.”
Fire departments from across the country have reached out to Zoneton Fire in support of Orkies, with their neighbors in Jefferson County, Shepherdsville, Okolona and Mount Washington using the chief’s call number, 8101.
Most recently, Zoneton honored Orkies during one of his favorite community events — Santa’s visit to local neighborhoods. This year’s fire truck was decked out in his favorite colors, red and white, along with a hint of green to bring attention to the fight against COVID-19.
Carlson said the fire department’s flags will fly at half-mast. WHAS11 will provide more information when plans to honor Orkies are released.
From the Courier-Journal, December 11th:
“Respected by all”: Kentucky fire chief dies after battling cancer and coronavirus
Ayana Archie
Louisville Courier Journal
A fire chief in Bullitt County, Kentucky died Friday after being diagnosed with coronavirus and previously fighting cancer.
“It is with deepest sympathy and regret that we announce the death of Chief Robert Orkies,” the Zoneton Fire Protection District said in a Facebook post.
Orkies worked in fire service for more than three decades, the post said, and joined the Zoneton department in 1994.
“He was respected by all who knew him,” the department said. “All of us are deeply saddened by his death. Our condolences and prayers go out to his family and friends. This is a difficult time for the entire Fire Department, and we will need to come together to get through it.”
Flags at the facility will be flown at half mast in honor of Orkies.