Slain Firefighter: Wife Says Daughter 'Will Know the Hero' Dad Was

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A fallen Prince George’s County firefighter – who said he couldn’t sleep if he didn’t help at least one person every day – was laid to rest Wednesday.

Firefighter/paramedic John “Skillet” Ulmschneider, 37, died Friday night at Southern Maryland Hospital Center from a gunshot wound to the upper body suffered on a call to check on a diabetic man who wasn’t responding to family members.

Morningside Volunteer firefighter Kevin Swain, 19, has been hospitalized at the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore since he was shot four times during the encounter.

The Temple Hills resident reportedly thought his home was being broken into when he shot Ulmschneider, Morningside volunteer firefighter Kevin Swain – who is still hospitalized -- and a relative trying to check on his welfare.

Officials posthumously promoted Ulmschneider to the rank of lieutenant.

Ulmschneider is survived by his wife, Dawn, and their 2-year-old daughter, Abigail.

On a fundraising website set up to help them, Dawn Ulmschneider thanked the members of the Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department for their support.

“Family doesn’t begin to describe the sense of belonging I feel toward the brothers and sisters of this IAFF family,” she wrote. “I am proud to be a PGFD wife and I find pride in wearing the PGFD insignia. Your love and support means the world to me. As the pictures and stories come in, I know that Skillet lives in each and every one of you. When I share all of your fond memories in the future with Abigail, I know that she will know the hero my husband was.”

As of Thursday, $34,245 has been donated to the family.

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Remembering "Skillet"

Skillet said that he had to help at least one person a day or he couldn’t sleep.

“I believe that was his motivation he had as a firefighter,” said family representative Chris Grable on Tuesday before visitation services. “I don’t believe there’s any limit to what Skillet would have done to have helped somebody.”

Family, friends and fellow firefighters celebrated Ulmschneider’s life in a Wednesday

funeral Mass at St. John's Parish in Hollywood, MD, the church he and his wife attended. A private family burial followed.

Here's a collection of images and messages from Wednesday's funeral procession and service, via Twitter.