A 58-year-old member of the Clear Lake Fire Dept., Captain Barry Schuldt, was recently named the 2014 Firefighter of the Year.

 

The annual award has been handed out for the past seven years with Colleen Knafla winning in 2013, Matt Lunser in 2012, Chad Koren in 2011, Nathan Mechtel in 2010, Kari Mechtel in 2009 and Wayne Marklowitz in 2008.

 

Schuldt has been with the CLFD for 35 years and has lived in Clear Lake Township for 32 of those years. He grew up in Clear Lake and attended St. Cloud Tech High School.

 

He is married (Brenda) and the Schuldts have three children (Kelly, 34, Keenan, 29 and Kaleb 24). They also have two grandsons (Payten, 6 and Kooper, 4).

Barry and Brenda have been married 35 years.

 

Barry says being named firefighter of the year “is truly an honor” and he sees a real need in the Clear Lake community for the services the fire department serves.

“I like being able to provide that service,” he said.

 

The award was handed out at the fire department’s appreciation banquet at Jack & Jim’s in Duelm Feb. 6. Schuldt had no idea he was the one to be honored that night.

“I was totally shocked,” Schuldt said.

 

Schuldt says being part of the CLFD requires a lot of dedication from all members who already have other obligations including families, other jobs and hectic schedules.

“Yet, they are   highly motivated individuals who give countless hours for training, emergency calls, fund raisers, equipment maintenance and the list goes on and on,” he said. “Not to mention the risks involved for them also.”

 

Schuldt, who works as a carpenter foreman for Braxton and Sons, says he has learned a lot about his job and life in his 30+ years of service to the community he lives in.

 

“Personally, I can say being a firefighter has taught me a bit about discipline, respect and working as a team,” Schuldt said. “This knowledge can be applied to everyday work and life  situations.”

 

The CLFD currently offers fire protection and rescue and medical response to a 75 square mile area and has a 30-member volunteer staff. Ron Koren is the fire chief.