Former Oak Lawn Fire Chief John McCastland Dies At 76

OAK LAWN, IL — Former Oak Lawn Fire Chief John P. “Mac” McCastland, who served the village fire department for 29 years until his retirement, passed away Oct. 1. McCastland’s honors and recognition throughout his fire service career ran deep. He was 76.

McCastland joined the Oak Lawn Fire Department in 1964 as a firefighter. He rose through the department’s ranks as an engineer, lieutenant, captain and division chief. In 1989, McCastland was appointed Oak Lawn and fulfilled that role until his retirement in 1993.

Following his retirement from OLFD, McCastland went on to serve the Orland Fire Protection District as a deputy administrator and fire chief until 2000. He moved on to fulfill the role of deputy chief for the Homer Township Fire Protection District.

McCastland was born Jan. 29, 1943 to John, Sr. and Loretta McCastland, who preceded him in death. He was Cpl. E-4 in the United States Marine Corps, where he was a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. McCastland was a survivor of the TET offensive in 1968, serving with the Golf Battery, Third Battalion, Eleventh Marine Regiment.

He taught for the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) for more than 30 years, as well as holding teaching responsibilities at a number of local fire schools, a community college and the Chicago Fire Department. He contributed significantly to curriculum development at the state level with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and for numerous other programs throughout Illinois, with a more recent focus on Statewide Weapons of Mass Destruction (SWMD) training.

McCastland also participated in a number of research projects to advance the knowledge base of Illinois firefighters. He was a co-developer, and chairman for many years of the Combined Agency Response Team (CART), a multi-jurisdictional specialized rescue team. McCastland also contributed to a number of trade publications and made numerous presentations.

He was the beloved husband of Sharon (Blume) and the loving father of Michael (Dori), Jeffery, Timothy (Kerri), Stacey (Teri), Jaclyn (Patrick) Curran, Nicole (William III) Lynch and Marie Brown; and cherished grandfather of 18. McCastland was also preceded in death by his sister Joan (the late Donald) Klein.

Visitation is set for Saturday, Oct. 5, from 2 to 9 p.m., with a fire service walkthrough set for 7 to 9 p.m. (line up at 6:30 p.m.) at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W. 103rd St. Oak Lawn (103rd Street and Cicero Avenue).

A second visitation will be held Sunday, Oct, 6.. The funeral service will take place at 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6850 W. 159th St. Tinley Park. Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Illinois Fire Service Institute Education and Research Award Fund.

For more information, call at 708-636-1193 or visit Blake-Lamb Funeral Home.