John H. Colbert

• Captain
• Birchwood Fire Department
• Wisconsin
• Age: 60
• Year of Death: 2012

John ‘Jack’ Colbert‚ age 60‚ of Birchwood‚ Wisconsin‚ died April 6‚ 2012‚ after responding to the fire station to handle radio communications during a call.

John Henry Colbert was born March 29‚ 1952‚ in Wisconsin to Howard and Theresa (Ziegenbalg) Colbert. Jack graduated from Birchwood High School in 1971. He worked at Birchwood Lumber & Veneer and at the lumberyards in Birchwood for many years. He also dug graves by hand at Woodlawn Cemetery. He enjoyed gardening and fishing.

Jack was a firefighter and worked on the Birchwood Ambulance and Rescue Team for many years. A 38-year veteran with the fire department‚ he had hoped to make it to 40 years.

Jack Colbert was survived by two sons‚ Jason Colbert and Jacob Colbert; a daughter and son-in-law‚ Sara and David Livingston; four grandchildren‚ Amanda‚ Auston‚ Alyssa‚ and McKenzie; his companion‚ Aura Lea Carrell‚ and her family; a brother‚ Gerald (Judy) Colbert; two sisters‚ Patty (James) Langham and Gail (Sam) Grazziano; and many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents‚ Howard and Theresa Colbert; two sisters‚ Beverly and Cathleen; and his favorite dog‚ Lou.

Jack’s fellow firefighters remembered him as serious and focused during an emergency‚ but friendly and smiling as soon as there was a break in the action. Jack was a true hometown hero.