Emmett Maul loved the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, and considered it his family.
Why else would anyone spend 45 years of his life volunteering for an organization?
“He was proud to call you all family,” said Joe Maul, one of Emmett’s sons, at Maul’s funeral Wednesday in Kearney.
Maul joined KVFD on Oct. 7, 1976, and died Oct. 7, on what was his 45th anniversary with the department. He was 76.
This week firefighters remembered the blunt, stout man who wore bib overalls religiously, and whose voice and laughter echoed throughout the station. Maul was known throughout the department as a dedicated leader and mentor who served in numerous capacities, including president, board of directors, president, captain, assistant chief and part-time driver.