Firefighter Gary Michalek 

Died in the line of duty October 26^th, 1981

Gary Michalek, age 21, a young single man still living at home with his parents, joined the Pleasantview Fire District in 1980.  An employee of United Parcel Service (UPS), Gary desired to follow in the foot steps of other family members who were in the Fire Service.  Described as “good natured and athletic” by his fellow Firefighters, he was also known for his ability to fix things.   

He had served with the department less then 1 year when, in the early morning of October 26^th, 1981, he became the second of two in the line of duty deaths the Fire District would suffer that day - the first ever in the history of the Fire District.  While fighting a fire in a commercial building in the City of Countryside, the lives of Gary Michalek and Jerry Srejma were taken from their families, Fire District, and Community when the roof of the building collapsed trapping both men.  

Their spirit is remembered and honored today in memorials at the National Firefighter Memorial in Emmetsburg, Maryland, the Illinois Firefighters Memorial in Springfield, Illinois, a Countryside Park named in their honor, in scholarships named in his honor from the Illinois Fire Chief’s Educational Foundation and the Pleasantview Firefighters Association, and in this Memorial dedicated to their memory.

 May he rest in peace.