By Jill Rick
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MERTON, Wis. — When George Miller signed on as a volunteer with the North Lake Fire Department (NLFD) in 1949, the 17-year-old probably wasn’t thinking that he’d still be fighting fires more than half a century later.
Last year, Miller celebrated his 60th year with the department. Now 77 years old, he’s slowed down a bit and no longer puts out as many fires as he once did, but “if there’s a major thing, I still go out,” Miller said.
Back when Miller joined the department with good friend Kenny Gilbertson, North Lake was a much smaller place. Miller joined to be a part of things going on in town, adding that “there was nothing else to do.”
Miller has served under eight of the nine fire chiefs who have led the department, which was formed in 1917.
Over the past 60 years, Miller’s service to the NLFD has gone well beyond the typical firefighter duties. In 1964, he joined the Fire Department Board, becoming president in 1969, a post he kept until turning it over to current president Dan Arndorfer two years ago.
While Miller remembers some of the biggest fires he’s been involved with — such as the fire at the local rendering plant and the time the Nashotah lumberyard burned down — being a North Lake firefighter has at times meant more than just fighting fires.
Back in 1975, when a massive ice storm left many in the area without power for days, department volunteers stepped in to help residents in any way they could.
“We hauled water on our trucks for the farmers, put generators on people’s houses,” Miller said.
He’s also helped rescue people who’ve broken through the ice on frozen lakes, and for years helped run a chicken barbecue held annually as fundraiser for the department.
Times have changed, for good and for bad. On the plus side, there aren’t nearly as many fires these days, probably due to better construction techniques and the fact that people are generally more cautious, Miller said.
On the negative side, it’s gotten much harder to find local residents willing to serve the department, which currently has about 25 active volunteers. Instead of being clustered together near downtown North Lake, residents served by the department are now spread out over a much larger area, perhaps diminishing the sense of community once strongly felt by people like George Miller.
Serving the Fire Department wasn’t the only way Miller has been involved in the community over the years. He served on the town Plan Commission for almost 20 years and was on the Town Board from 2001 to 2009. He is also a longtime member of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church.
The father of five and grandfather of 11 has been married to wife Patricia for 52 years. Miller evidently passed his love of being a firefighter down to sons Mark and Mike, who have both served with the department. Mike just received his pin for 20 years of service.
Copyright 2010 Journal Sentinel Inc.