OLDHAM COUNTY, Ky. — Firefighters paid respects to the Ballardsville firefighter who died while responding to a fire Saturday evening.

What You Need To Know

  • Investigators said Thomas Petschke had a medical emergency while responding to a fire in a rural area of Goshen. Petschke had a medical emergency, according to investigators. He died at the hospital

  • Firefighters escorted Thomas Petschke, to the funeral home in La Grange on Monday

  • Petschke had two children in college and owned his own businesses.

  • Details of his funeral arrangements are still unknown

Investigators said Thomas Petschke had a medical emergency while responding to a fire in a rural area of Goshen. Petschke had a medical emergency, according to investigators.

Sergeant Stephen Sauerbeck, with the Ballardsville Fire Department, is a family friend of Petschke. He was on the call with him.

“My primary concern, he was already receiving care, was his family and luckily that was a blessing that I was there being with them — that I had his wife’s phone number and was able to contact her myself and she was even able to get to the hospital before we did,” said Sauerbeck.

According to the Jefferson County Coroner, the 53-year-old passed away at the hospital.

On Monday, firefighters, friends and family escorted Petschke from a funeral home in Old Louisville, past Ballardsville’s fire department, to a funeral home in La Grange.

“The honor guard is standing with Tom 24/7. Whether he’s here or traveling to New York or until he’s buried — firefighters will be by his side the entire time,” Sauerbeck said. 

Sauerbeck said Petschke’s family told him will be forever grateful for the support they are receiving from the fire department and the community.

Petschke had two children who are in college.

“Every day, there’s hundreds of people lifting them up, supporting them physically, emotionally, spiritually, and that — I can’t say enough. Their gratitude for that support is, they [ask] every day, ‘How can we ever repay them?’ It’s not a debt that they have to repay,” Sauerbeck said. 

Petschke will always be remembered by his family, friends and fellow firefighters.

“Tom was, like I said, the definition of a volunteer. Very loyal, just a just all around really good. Never negative, never any bad words and when he was attached to do something, his loyalty always, always showed,” said Stephen Fante, the chief of Ballardsville Fire Department. 

Petschke owned a toothpick company called Petschke Pick and a contracting business.

“Tom was a great friend and a role model to all of us, but especially to me and how he ran his business and how he takes care of his family and serves his community,” said Sauerbeck. 

Details of his funeral arrangements have yet to be disclosed. 

Related Stories