WARRENS, Wis. — The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the line-of-duty death of Firefighter Lori Boelkes, who died on Feb. 27, 2025, following a medical emergency that occurred shortly after responding to a call.
Boelkes had responded to a motor vehicle crash as the driver of Tender 1. She cleared the scene and returned to the station. While driving home later that day, she became ill.
Her husband transported her to Tomah Hospital, where doctors determined she had suffered a stroke. She was later transferred to Marshfield Medical Center, where she died nearly two weeks later.
Boelkes dedicated over a decade to serving her community as a firefighter and volunteer emergency medical responder. Most recently, she was serving the Warrens community, where her kindness, leadership and positivity left a lasting impact, WEAU reported.
“I worked with her for her full 10 years on our department,” New Auburn Firefighter Krystalyn Lotts said. “She was always just a ray of sunshine with her smile, her encouragement. If you were ever doubting yourself, she was the one to lift you up.”
“I wasn’t fortunate enough to know her long, but in the little time I did, she was amazing and a great role model,” Warrens Firefighter Mary Gutierrez said. “She’s the one who got me started in the fire department and took me under her wing. I was really looking forward to learning more from her.”
