Funeral Services Friday For Veteran Buffalo Grove Firefighter

BUFFALO GROVE, IL – Family and friends of Kevin Hauber as well as village employees in Buffalo Grove are mourning the loss of the 23-year veteran firefighter/paramedic. Hauber, who bravely fought against colon cancer for the last four years died on Saturday. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing, which included his wife and four young daughters, according to a news release from the village of Buffalo Grove.

“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.

A wake will be held from 3 until 9 p.m. Thursday at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at St. Mary's Church, 50 N. Buffalo Grove Road in Buffalo Grove.

Growing up, he and his twin brother Jim, also a firefighter/paramedic with the Buffalo Grove Fire Department, idolized the characters on the 1970’s show, EMERGENCY!, which profiled the crew of a California fire department. In 2014 while undergoing chemotherapy treatments, Hauber met one of the stars of the show, Randy Mantooth, and was able to explain to him how he show motivated he and his brother to become firefighters, according to a news release.

Mantooth signed a picture of them as little boys during the meeting, an experience that Hauber cherished.

Hauber began his full-time career in Buffalo Grove in 1994 as a firefighter/paramedic. In 2004, he joined the Associated Firefighters of Illinois (AFFI) Honor Guard, which exists to provide final honors to fallen firefighters throughout the State of Illinois.

According to Buffalo Grove Fire Chief Mike Baker, Hauber deeply believed in the mission of the AFFI Honor Guard, and always made himself available to serve at events that honored fallen comrades.

In 2018, the AFFI Honor Guard presented Kevin with the 2018 Donald J. Bower Commitment to Excellence Award for his dedication and commitment to the Honor Guard.

“Kevin was a caring, loving person who was always happy and never had anything bad to say about anyone, even when he was sick,” said Chief Baker. “He is already missed.”

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the Hauber Children's Education Fund, c/o Glueckert Funeral Home.