South Bend honors 'Dutch' Koehler with street naming for 32-year firefighter

Kathy Borlik
·3 min read
The Koehler family — Grace Lamb, left, Marissa Koehler, Sarah Berg, Brennon Koehler and Vicki Koehler — gathers at the unveiling of an honorary street sign named for Capt. Dave “Dutch” Koehler, a 32-year veteran of the South Bend Fire Department who died from brain cancer in August 2019. The sign is in the 200 block of North Olive Street, near the front of Station 4, his last duty assignment. Vicki was his wife, and Grace, Marissa and Brennon are his children.

It was clear and sunny. A perfect Saturday morning. It was a great day to pay tribute to Dutch Koehler.

Capt. Dave “Dutch” Koehler died after losing his battle with brain cancer in August 2019.

Dutch was a 32-year veteran of the South Bend Fire Department. He was a lifetime city resident, a graduate of LaSalle High School, an athlete and big-hearted friend. He coached swimming and competed in the World Police and Fire Games. He was an Indiana River Rescue instructor for 25 years. He loved the water.

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Friends, family and firefighters gathered for the unveiling of an honorary street sign on Sept. 9. The 200 block of North Olive Street is now known as Dave “Dutch” Koehler Boulevard. The sign is near the front of Station 4, which was his last duty assignment.

Dutch would have appreciated the location and the sign with the “boulevard” designation. Nice touch. Very classy.

There were kind words and many tears from family and tough-as-nails firefighters.

Vicki and Dutch were married for 29 years. “This sign shows me his service to the community was recognized," she said. "His accomplishments were special. He definitely left his mark. This means a lot to me and our family.”

Dutch had surgery and chemotherapy in 2016. “His goal was to requalify and come back,” Vicki said. He did that in 2018.

This provided photo shows the Koehler family — Grace Lamb, left, Vicki Koehler, Capt. Dave "Dutch" Koehler, Brennon Koehler and Marissa Koehler — at the fire station when “Dutch” returned to work in 2018 after treatment for brain cancer. He would die from the disease in August 2019.
This provided photo shows the Koehler family — Grace Lamb, left, Vicki Koehler, Capt. Dave "Dutch" Koehler, Brennon Koehler and Marissa Koehler — at the fire station when “Dutch” returned to work in 2018 after treatment for brain cancer. He would die from the disease in August 2019.

Daughters Grace Lamb and Marissa Koehler; son Brennon Koehler; and Dutch’s sisters Julie Yoder and Alice Blakesley made the unveiling a family event.

“I think of legacy," Grace said. "I think of respect for his memory. I know he had an impact.”

Marissa added “honorable” to the list. “He served honorably.”

Brennon, wearing a firefighter’s sweatshirt that he acquired years ago from the dad collection, said his father wouldn’t like the attention, but he would appreciate the location on Olive Street.

On Sept. 9, 2023, the city installed an honorary street sign named for Capt. Dave “Dutch” Koehler, a 32-year veteran of the South Bend Fire Department who died from brain cancer in August 2019. The sign is in the 200 block of North Olive Street, near the front of Station 4, his last duty assignment.
On Sept. 9, 2023, the city installed an honorary street sign named for Capt. Dave “Dutch” Koehler, a 32-year veteran of the South Bend Fire Department who died from brain cancer in August 2019. The sign is in the 200 block of North Olive Street, near the front of Station 4, his last duty assignment.

Ken Marks, a retired captain with South Bend Fire, requested the honorary sign. It was a way to honor a friend and a co-worker. “He was a teacher, a mentor. A great friend with a great sense of humor. He was a rare friend.”

Ken recalled the time when the firefighters had a flag football game with South Bend Police. “They were kicking our butts. Well, we’ve all heard about the police and doughnuts. Dutch decide to hang doughnuts on his flags. They all laughed. We all ate the doughnuts.”

City police continued to kick the firefighters’ butts, but they all had a good time, according to Ken. “The sign is a lasting tribute to him — to the man, the firefighter and his spirit,” Ken said.

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Retired Battalion Chief Al “Buddy” Kirsits suggested that Dutch apply to the fire department. He didn’t know what he was going to do for an occupation. He did find his niche.

“Dutch was a family man, a teacher," Buddy said. "He had a mind like an engineer. He would say we need Plan A, Plan B and Plan C. And then Plan D. He liked to think ahead. He was one of the good guys.”

This provided photo shows Capt. Dave “Dutch” Koehler on the job as a South Bend firefighter. He served for 32 years, before dying from brain cancer in August 2019. On Sept. 9, 2023, the city installed an honorary street sign named for him in the 200 block of North Olive Street, near the front of Station 4, his last duty assignment.
This provided photo shows Capt. Dave “Dutch” Koehler on the job as a South Bend firefighter. He served for 32 years, before dying from brain cancer in August 2019. On Sept. 9, 2023, the city installed an honorary street sign named for him in the 200 block of North Olive Street, near the front of Station 4, his last duty assignment.

Fire Chief Carl Buchanan spoke before the unveiling. He said he appreciated that Dutch treated everyone the same and kept an even keel. “He never got angry. We never saw that. He was a man of integrity.”

Chief Carl remembered that Dutch liked this neighborhood and getting to know everyone. Giving the neighbors a friendly face to connect to the fire station.

Vicki and Ken did the honor of pulling the cloth that covered the sign. Applause, photos and a few tears. The attendees moved back to the station for light refreshments. Doughnuts were served. Dutch would have liked that.

Kathy Borlik
Kathy Borlik

Contact Kathy at kfborlik@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend firefighter honored with honorary renaming of street