Biographical Info
Age: 64
Additional Info: Soderquist had been with the fire department for 36 years and was the second generation of firefighters in his family. His son, Chawn, is also a firefighter.
Cause of Death: Soderquist was helping put out a fire at a house about eight miles north of town a few minutes after midnight when he suffered a heart attack.
Date of Incident: December 1, 2006
By Mark Mahoney
Lincoln Journal Star (Nebraska)
Copyright 2006 Lincoln Journal Star,
All Rights Reserved
Leo Soderquist, a longtime volunteer firefighter and a cabinet maker, died of a heart attack Friday after fighting an early morning fire near Axtell. He was 64.
Soderquist, an Axtell native, was helping put out a fire at a house about eight miles north of town a few minutes after midnight, said Kym Rush, chief of the Axtell Fire and Rescue unit. After firefighters returned to the station about 2 a.m., Soderquist suffered a heart attack, Rush said. He was taken to a Kearney hospital, where he died.
The fire was caused by wiring for a ceiling fan. Rush said the damage, mostly to the attic, was estimated near $10,000. The house’s owners were evacuated safely.
Soderquist had been with the fire department for 36 years and was the second generation of firefighters in his family, Rush said. His son, Chawn, is also a firefighter.
Rush said there might be a fourth generation — Leo Soderquist’s grandson has been known to run around the department in fire-fighting gear.
“His family came first,” Rush said.
Soderquist also owned a business in Axtell. His cabinet store, Soderquist Cabinets, had customers from all over the area, Rush said. Soderquist’s dad owned the shop before Soderquist took it over.
“Leo was always willing to help,” Rush said. “He was always a big part of the community.”
Soderquist is survived by his wife, Linda; his three children; and a sister, who lives in Alma.
Services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Axtell.