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A fire captain’s final goodbye. The Omaha Professional Firefighters Association said John Olson died in “the line of duty” from complications due to cancer. His funeral was held Wednesday morning.READ MORE: Omaha Fire Department, union remembers firefighter who died from complications with cancer as a ‘steady leadership’Olson was 50 years old and a member of the Omaha Fire Department for 22 years. He was promoted to captain in 2012.His fellow firefighters provided a line of support Wednesday morning at St. Andrews United Methodist Church in northwest Omaha before the funeral.Then there was a long procession south on 144th Street to the burial site at Voss Mohr Cemetery. The department said he worked on several assignments, including Engine 23 and special operations. Most recently, he was a fire inspector.Speakers at the funeral said he served selflessly and cherished every moment with friends and family. “He had the perfect blend of intelligence and the ability to remain calm and be humble about all of it,” Omaha Fire Battalion Chief Chad Kinney said. “That’s a tough thing to find, but it makes such a wonderful person and a wonderful leader, and many of us on this job benefited from that.”Kinney said Olson loved movies and food. He said at the funeral: “It wasn’t about the food! it was about getting together with people… that’s what he wanted. He wanted to be with you guys.”Kinney, who thoroughly interviewed Olson about his life in 2024, ended his eulogy by quoting Olson on his battle with cancer. “I certainly wouldn’t wish this on anybody else,” Kinney recalled Olson saying, “but it makes you understand what’s important in life and realize who’s important and gives you a chance to tell them, where I may not have always told them. I’m grateful for that.” Firefighters are more likely to die of cancer than the general population.The Firefighter Cancer Support Network points to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research that says they are 9% more likely to receive a diagnosis and 14% more likely to die of cancer.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
A fire captain’s final goodbye.
The Omaha Professional Firefighters Association said John Olson died in “the line of duty” from complications due to cancer.
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His funeral was held Wednesday morning.
Olson was 50 years old and a member of the Omaha Fire Department for 22 years. He was promoted to captain in 2012.
His fellow firefighters provided a line of support Wednesday morning at St. Andrews United Methodist Church in northwest Omaha before the funeral.
Then there was a long procession south on 144th Street to the burial site at Voss Mohr Cemetery.
The department said he worked on several assignments, including Engine 23 and special operations. Most recently, he was a fire inspector.
Speakers at the funeral said he served selflessly and cherished every moment with friends and family.
“He had the perfect blend of intelligence and the ability to remain calm and be humble about all of it,” Omaha Fire Battalion Chief Chad Kinney said. “That’s a tough thing to find, but it makes such a wonderful person and a wonderful leader, and many of us on this job benefited from that.”
Kinney said Olson loved movies and food. He said at the funeral: “It wasn’t about the food! it was about getting together with people… that’s what he wanted. He wanted to be with you guys.”
Kinney, who thoroughly interviewed Olson about his life in 2024, ended his eulogy by quoting Olson on his battle with cancer.
“I certainly wouldn’t wish this on anybody else,” Kinney recalled Olson saying, “but it makes you understand what’s important in life and realize who’s important and gives you a chance to tell them, where I may not have always told them. I’m grateful for that.”
Firefighters are more likely to die of cancer than the general population.
The Firefighter Cancer Support Network points to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research that says they are 9% more likely to receive a diagnosis and 14% more likely to die of cancer.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
