JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A procession of fire trucks, police cars, and first responders traveled beneath an American flag along Old St. Augustine Road Friday afternoon, escorting Jacksonville Fire Rescue Engineer Ian Church to his final resting place.
Church died following a battle with cancer. JFRD said he served with JFRD starting in February 2021 and was recently promoted to engineer in June. He was 41 years old.
Anyone who saw the procession would agree it was fit for a hero. That’s exactly what Jacksonville Fire Rescue Engineer Ian Church was to so many, including Fire Chief Keith Powers.
“Selfless service, selfless service to his country, to this community, and to his family,” Chief Powers said.
Watch the full video of the procession below
Hundreds gathered at St. Joseph Catholic Church to say goodbye to the man they so admired.
Engineer Church was buried at Jacksonville National Cemetery. Prior to serving with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, Church served with Clay County Fire Rescue. Before that, he served his country in the United States Marine Corps.
When he wasn’t serving the public, he was spending time with his wife, Brittany, and their three small children.
“The last words he ever spoke to me were, ‘Please take care of my wife and kids’,” Chief Powers said. “It was about selfless service to his family. He didn’t care about what was happening to him while he was on his deathbed. He cared about his family.”
During the procession to the Jacksonville National Cemetery, several people came outside their places of business just to see what was happening.
That’s another example of community support in Jacksonville for Church. Powers said it comes down to supporting that family and the JFRD family at large.
“We’re blessed to have the largest peer support team in the state. Our support team is used throughout the state to help other fire departments. But right now, they’re at home ministering to our men and women and providing whatever they need in this time,” Powers said.
Though the services Friday reflect grief, they also reflect the impact of a man who meant so much.
A man who was known for having a great sense of humor, and a special love for celebrating Christmas.
“Loved to decorate the outside of the house. His wife told me it reminded her of Christmas vacation. And it means so much to him that he even had a sticker on his helmet of Clark Griswold. Just a great father and a great firefighter and great human being,” Powers said.
Click here to donate to the GoFundMe account set up to help Church’s family.