The village of Carpentersville is mourning the unexpected death Tuesday of Fire Battalion Chief Todd Middendorf. "He was basically one of the cornerstones of the department," Fire Chief John-Paul Schilling said. "He was well-loved within the entire region."
Middendorf, 46, was a resident of Carpentersville and member of the local fire department for 23 years, starting as a part-timer in 1994 and moving to full time in 1997, Schilling said. Middendorf functioned in the role of acting deputy chief and assisted in the administration of the department, the chief said. The firefighter and paramedic is survived by his wife, Daisy, and young son, Tyler.