Family of Firefighter Who Died Of Cancer To Receive His Pension

BUFFALO GROVE, IL – The Buffalo Grove Firefighters Pension Board stood by a decision the panel made earlier this year to award the family of a firefighter who died from colon cancer his full pension, according to the Daily Herald. The panel decided in March that Kevin Hauber's death was job-related. Now, his wife and four young daughters are set to receive his annual salary of $101,000 unless the village decides to appeal the pension board's decision, the newspaper reports.

A report on the line-of-duty death findings from the pension board will now got to the village's attorney and Hauber's widow, according to the Daily Herald. The village has 35 days once it is mailed to appeal it.

Village Manager Dane Bragg said the village would plan to have its attorney review the findings and then would likely discuss at a village board meeting in closed session.

"I would reiterate what we stated after the initial hearing. We were not sure that the pension board's ruling was consistent with state law," he said Monday.

Hauber, a 23-year Buffalo Grove veteran firefighter/paramedic, died in January after a four-year battle with colon cancer.

"Kevin fought long and hard all while still on the job protecting the people of Buffalo Grove,which was his true passion. He grew up in Buffalo Grove and became a firefighter because his childhood dream was to protect and serve," the Hauber family said in statement following Hauber's death.

• Veteran Buffalo Grove Firefighter Dies

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