Longtime former Batesville fire chief passes away

(BATESVILLE, Ind.) — A former longtime Batesville fire chief and founding member of the community's EMS service has passed away.

Donald Weigel’s tenure on the Batesville Fire Department began in 1951 and he served for 45 years. 

He was the fire chief from 1978 until he retired from the fire service in 1996. 

Weigel was a founding member of the Batesville Rescue 10 Lifesquad and was one of the first EMT’s to serve the community. 

“He played an instrumental role in building the foundation of the Batesville Fire Department as we know it today. His vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to serving our community helped shape generations of firefighters and EMS providers,” Batesville Fire & Rescue stated.

The fire department said Weigel's dedication to the Batesville area will never be forgotten.

His legacy lives on through the department he helped build, the lives he touched, and the members who continue to serve in his footsteps,” the department stated.

His community involvement also included several years of service on the St. Louis School Board, the Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association, the Batesville Knights of Columbus and the Ripley County Democratic Party. He also worked for Hill-Rom for 20 years before retiring. 

Donald passed away on Sunday at the age of 95.

The visitation will be held at Weigel Funeral Home from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 3. The funeral Mass will follow at 1 p.m. at St. Louis Church.