VIDEO - Rob Hecksel, a retired firefighter diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February, was hoping for a long second career as a social worker.
He’s trying to compress that mission into his remaining time.
Hecksel, 51, of Lansing was a battalion chief with the Lansing Fire Department. He retired three years ago after a 25-year career but wanted to find another job that he loved and that improved the lives of others. ... About 100 people surprised him at his house last week to sing Christmas carols. It was a mix of classmates from the Lansing Catholic High School class of 1984, firefighters, friends from St. Gerard’s Catholic Church and other friends.
He thought at first they were random neighborhood carolers. As he began to recognize face after face, it dawned on him it was a big show of support