Local firefighter family wins a new roof

Brett and Katie Stender took their children, Oliver and Clara, to the fire station Monday, July 1. While they thought the order of business was for the fire department and firemates to have photos taken by the local newspaper, they were in for a surprise, in addition to that.

Local photographer Dan Dickinson took the photos, however when those were complete, the station doors opened and outside was a surprise that the Stenders had been gifted with a new roof.

The Stenders were nominated by a family member for a contest for community heroes from Home Solutions of Iowa to get a new roof.

“We were completely shocked. [Fire Chief TJ Oder] had sent out a message that we were supposed to meet down there to get our pictures taken. I didn’t think anything of it. I had no idea this was going to happen,” Brett said.

When the Stenders were asked to come to the front of the room before the doors opened, they knew something was happening they knew nothing about.

“It was complete shock,” Katie said. “We knew we were a finalist, but never did we think we would actually win, or deserve it even.”

“It had been several weeks. We had kind of forgotten about it,” Brett added. “Like Katie said, we did not expect to be winners and did not feel like we were the deserving ones for what they were doing. It’s completely shocking.”

After the tornado, Brett, who is the department’s secretary/treasurer, served a short time as Greenfield’s interim fire chief while Oder and others were also taking care of their own property loss.

The Stenders’ home was not in the path of the tornado, however they learned about the same time as the tornado that their roof was old and worn enough that it would no longer be covered by their insurance. To have the peace of mind that they will be getting a new roof means a lot to the Stenders.

The previous fire station in Greenfield has been condemned and demolition of it will happen sometime soon, before the department will begin to rebuild. The department is currently housed in a shed owned by Bill Hohertz on the northeast side of town. Department members continue serving by responding to calls and handling other duties while also tending to their own personal needs relating to the cleanup, rebuild and everyday life.

“Everybody that was a part of it knew we had to be there to help things get back to normal,” Brett said of the days immediately following the tornado, when firefighters were working 24/7 to help and were away from their families.

Seeing hard work and unity exhibited by the community and its emergency responders has had a lasting impact on Katie as well.

“I’m so proud of Brett. He has stepped up in a way I knew he could. To be there for the community and doing everything he’s done, putting the community first, showing the kids what it’s all about, it has really warmed my heart,” Katie said. “It has made me love my community, my fire department community and my husband a million times more than I already did. It made us that much closer.”