Schulenburg VFD Elects Guentert as Fire Chief
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Outgoing Schulenburg Fire Chief Jeff Proske (left) presents the chief’s badge to newly elected Fire Chief Darren Guentert at the department’s meeting last Thursday, Sept. 14.
The Schulenburg Volunteer Fire Department elected Darren Guentert as their new Fire Chief on Sept. 14.
Guentert succeeds Jeff Proske, who served eight years as the Schulenburg Fire Chief. Proske will stay with the department for one year before he reaches mandatory retirement.
“Our bylaws state that we have to retire when we turn 60,” Proske said. “I’m 59, and I didn’t want to just hand over the keys and say, ‘See you later.’ I wanted to hang around and be there for a year in case they have questions. I just wanted to be available for them.”
Proske has served 35 years for the department and became an assistant chief in 1996.
“My son Doran is a fireman now,” Proske said. “So it’ll be interesting running calls with him and riding trucks together.”
Guentert has served 17 years with the department and became an assistant chief two years ago.
“I have to give Jeff a lot of credit for what he’s done with the department,” Guentert said. “We appreciate everything he’s done and we wouldn’t be where we are without him. He’s gotten us ready for this.
“All of the past chiefs have gotten us to where we are at,” Guentert added. “We want to keep it heading in that direction. We’re going to keep working every day to do that. My number one goal is to make sure that each member who gets called out gets home safely.”
In addition, Schulenburg Fireman Gary Eudy moved into the department’s leadership as Third Assistant Chief. He joins the command team of First Assistant Chief Drew Brossmann and Second Assistant Chief Randy Wick.