| On January 31st, 2016, former Fire Chief and current Dubuque County Board of Supervisor, Tom Hancock died from a sudden illness. Tom had been with the fire department for 45 years and spent 16 years as Chief. Tom had led a group of Epworth Fire Department volunteers to complete paramedic training in the 1980s, and their department became one of the first rural volunteer departments in the state to become certified in advanced life support. He helped the county establish a fund that enabled rural volunteer fire departments to borrow money to purchase equipment, and he worked to get a grant to get rural volunteer fire departments off of the phone tree (system) and onto pagers. Toms leadership help make the Epworth Fire Department what it is today.
Tom’s dedication to not only EMS and Fire but also to Public Safety in Iowa will be greatly missed.
We extend our condolences to Coleen and Steve. Tom was an inspiration to everyone he met. His enthusiasm for helping not only his community but the state of Iowa will be a void that will be hard to fill.
Friends and family of Tom Hancock may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 at the Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa. A wake service is set for 1 p.m.
Funeral services are set for 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 5 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Epworth. Burial will be held at St. Patrick’s Cemetery. |
