Steinbach firefighters mourn the loss of a leader and friend

One of the great fire chiefs of Steinbach has died and his successors say he will be missed.

Succumbing to longstanding health issues, Curt Loewen passed away in the hospital on Sunday, only a handful of days after the death of his mother.

“He was a good leader on the fire department, he really was,” states Mark Loewen who assumed Curt’s station when he retired in 2002. “There is a path that gets you where you need to go and that is the way he went. If he ruffled feathers along the way, he didn’t care because he did what his community needed.”

One of the great fire chiefs of Steinbach has died and his successors say he will be missed.

Succumbing to longstanding health issues, Curt Loewen passed away in the hospital on Sunday, only a handful of days after the death of his mother.

“He was a good leader on the fire department, he really was,” states Mark Loewen who assumed Curt’s station when he retired in 2002. “There is a path that gets you where you need to go and that is the way he went. If he ruffled feathers along the way, he didn’t care because he did what his community needed.”

Curt Loewen was succeeded by Mark Loewen who was succeeded by Kelvin Toews

According to Loewen, the Steinbach Fire Department went through many shifts during Curt’s time at the helm: education was prioritized, equipment was updated, and new protocols were instituted. While he commends the old chief for progressing with the times and tackling the challenges of a growing city, Loewen remembers Curt primarily for his matter-of-fact approach to leadership.

“You knew exactly where you stood with Curt when you talked to him. He pulled no punches, he never beat around the bush, and he never held a grudge. You could get into a disagreement and at the end of the day it was all okay. I respect a guy who does that.”

Steinbach’s current fire chief, Kelvin Toews, was also influenced by Curt. He says the enthusiastic fireman was the one who initially convinced him to join the force around 30 years ago. Like Loewen, Toews valued Curt’s tough love for his members.

“He was real, he was genuine, and he didn’t play any games," he remarks. "If you did something wrong he would tell you, but on the other hand, if you did something right, he would be there to give you a pat on the back.”

The flag at the Steinbach Fire Hall is currently flying at half mast.

As Toews recalls, Curt spent many of his spare hours studying new techniques, hypothesizing over worst-case scenarios, and researching the behaviour of fire.

“Fire was in his DNA,” Toews says. “He lived and breathed it.”

Even after his time with the fire department had formally come to an end, Curt made a point of stopping by the hall to chat with the guys and get a sense of how the world of firefighting was changing.

“If we got a new piece of equipment, he was not far behind to come and take a look at it,” Toews laughs. “He will be missed.”

The flag at the fire hall is flying at half-mast right now as firefighters past and present mourn with the family, friends, and many others who loved him dearly.

Curt had a lasting impact on his community and many of the individuals who call it home. For that reason, both Toews and Loewen expect his funeral would be full of people coming to pay their respects in any year not governed by COVID-19 restrictions. Instead of a large public event, a small funeral service will be held in Curt’s honour at a later date. He is survived by a wife, two daughters, a son, and many grandchildren.