Firefighter Remembered As Pillar Of The Newtown Fire Association

NEWTOWN, Pa. — The Newtown community is mourning the loss of one of its long time residents and a 65 year member of the Newtown Fire Association (NFA).

The Newtown Fire and Emergency Services announced the passing of former NFA President Dave Pannepacker in a Facebook posting.

Dave had served the association as president in 1987, during a time of unprecedented growth in Newtown. He had also held the positions of vice president, recording secretary, trustee and from 1965 to 1992 he was the foreman and driver for Rescue 45, a 1965 Ward La France rescue unit
which served the fire company until 1997 when it was retired after 32 years of active service. The apparatus is still owned by the fire company and housed in its museum.

Dave also spent many years as chairman of the Skyline Fire District.

“For 65 years he was part of the group who set the foundation of the fire association. And it’s going to be an extremely big loss without him there,” said Chief Glenn Forsyth, who has known Dave his entire life.

According to the chief, Dave would have coffee with the career firefighters every morning. “He was at the firehouse every day. And he never missed a fire company meeting until last month when he got sick. He was just always there.

“We always looked to Dave for guidance,” the chief added. “He was a huge pillar of the fire association. We depended on him and every day he was always there when you needed him,” said Forsyth. “He was a terrific man.”

Known around town as “Mr. P,” Dave was a lifelong Newtonian who was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving stateside from 1950 to 1954 during the Korean War.

He graduated from Newtown High School on Chancellor Street and worked for 33 years with the United States Post Office in Newtown. After retiring from USPS at age 55 he drove a school bus route for Grey Nun Academy for many years

“His dedication and commitment to his family, the fire association and his hometown were unparalleled. Dave was a true gentleman,” wrote the association on its Facebook page. “He was revered as the local historian and his council was often sought in navigating various fire association issues over the years.”

NFA President Warren Dallas said Dave has been a fixture at the association for more than six decades. “That in itself says a lot to give that much time of himself,” said Dallas. “My early memories of him are as foreman of Rescue 45 where he was often the driver going out on emergency calls.

“He also supported the association in many administrative positions,” said Dallas. “He was my vice president during my first six years as president. He represented the association for me at many functions. He was someone you could count on to help in any way needed. And he is going to be greatly missed.”

Dallas said Dave was always involved with the trucks, whether it was helping to spec out new purchases, driving them or helping to maintain the fleet.

“His loss is going to be a hole that’s going to be hard for us to fill,” said Dallas. “He was always there at the meetings. It may take some time for it to sink in that he’s not going to be there anymore.”

In November, the association honored Pannepacker for his years of service by dedicating the company’s newest engine in his honor. He was also given the honor of sitting in the passenger seat as the truck was pushed into the station house.

During the housing ceremony, Chief Forsyth noted that Pannepacker applied to the fire association on August 6, 1956 but wasn’t voted into the fire company’s membership until Sept. 30, 1957. “There was a waiting list to become a volunteer fireman,” said Forsyth. “Thank you for sticking out that year,” he told Pannepacker.

A bronze plaque affixed to the side of the engine today recognizes Pannepacker for his years of service and dedication to the local fire service.

“It’s unbelievable. This is one of the nicest things to happen to me in my lifetime,” said Pannepacker at the dedication. “I’ve enjoyed my time with the fire company and all the the people I’ve met and all the guys I know. They are super people.”

In a word, Pannepacker called the new truck “beautiful,” which was high praise coming from a man who owed several of his own antique fire engines, including the oldest field truck in Bucks County and was the company’s truck foreman for years.

On Thursday Pannepacker will be laid to rest at the Newtown Cemetery, his casket carried aboard an antique 1923 Kearns Doughy Pumper, which is part of the association’s collection of antique fire apparatus. At the entrance to the cemetery, the truck will pass below an extended fire truck ladder displaying the American flag.

Relatives and friends are invited to greet Dave’s family on Thursday, August 11 from 10 a.m. until his funeral services at noon at the Swartz Givnish Funeral Home, 323 Washington Avenue, Newtown. Interment will follow at the Newtown Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dave’s name may be made to the Newtown Fire Association at http://www.newtownfire.com/donate.html