Eugene A. Branstiter
URBANA — Eugene A. Branstiter, former chief of the Urbana Fire Division died Sunday, Dec. 27, the Branstiter family confirmed.
Nicknamed “Chief,” Branstiter, 85, of Urbana died at home after a prolonged illness, his youngest son, Roger, told the News-Sun.
“He wanted to get to Christmas,” Roger Branstiter said. “And he did.”
Branstiter was a fireman for 45 years and fire chief for 31 years before retiring in 1991, Roger Branstiter said.
“I think he would have been doing it ‘til this day if he could have,” Roger Branstiter added. “He thoroughly loved the job he did.”
As a child in Urbana, Branstiter had a Boy Scout leader who was a firefighter, Roger Branstiter explained.
“It was a job he always wanted to do,” he said.
A 1942 graduate of St. Mary High School, Branstiter served in the U.S. Navy for four years during World War II, which is where he met his wife, Bernice, who was also in the Navy.
The couple have been married for nearly 65 years and have four children, three sons and a daughter. Branstiter also spent nearly 30 years in the Navy Reserve and retired as a Chief Petty Officer.
The past few months hadn’t been easy for Branstiter, who was active in the community until recently as a member of the Messiah Lutheran Church and Urbana Rotary Club. He was president of the Urbana High School Athletic Booster Club for many years, continuing to support boys’ and girls’ sports well after his own children had graduated, according to his son.
“That’s how I knew he had to be sick,” Roger Branstiter said. “He wasn’t getting to the football games.”
Branstiter is survived by his wife, their four children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Services are pending with the Walter & Smith Funeral Home of Urbana.
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