Submitted by his wife

Joe was a volunteer fireman for 27 years. He held several offices in the department and ran fund raisers. Joe served in the U.S. Army for three years‚ including 13 months in Korea. He was a mechanical engineer‚ liked working with his hands‚ enjoyed the out of doors‚ and was a hunter and fisherman. He was survived by his wife Joan‚ sons Joseph and James‚ and daughter Joanne.

After he died‚ in 1992‚ the fire department wanted to do something in his memory. We decided to give a fire prevention award in the elementary school. Each year the students in the 4th and 5th grades make fire prevention posters and a team from our department judges the entries. The winning poster is submitted to the state contest. The student who made the winning poster is awarded a savings bond‚ and his or her name is engraved on the Joseph Kirchner Memorial Fire Prevention Plaque‚ which is kept in the school office. This is a wonderful way to keep our memories of my husband alive–and he can still have an impact on the children in our community.