Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - March 29, 2000
Deceased Name: Kevin F. Sterenchuk

Kevin F. Sterenchuk,48, of 4206 Vine Ave. SE, died Monday, March 27,
2000, in Mercy Medical Center following a sudden illness. Services: 11
a.m. Thursday, All Saints Catholic Church. Bishop William Franklin of
Davenport and the Rev. David O'Connor of Dubuque will
officiate. Private inurnment will be at a later date. Friends may call
from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the church, where a wake service begins at 6
p.m. Arrangements by Cedar Memorial Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia; two daughters, Amy Drahos and
husband Matt and Ann Sterenchuk, all of Cedar Rapids; three sons,
Patrick of Dubuque, Matthew of Chicago and Daniel of Cedar Rapids; two
sisters, Kathleen O'Donnell and husband Patrick of Cedar Rapids and
Christine Robinson and husband Kyle of Marion; a brother, Michael
Sterenchuk and wife Debi of Texas; a granddaughter, Anna Drahos; his
father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harley and Elvarose Squires of Cedar
Rapids; his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Michael and Linda Squires of
Cedar Falls and Scott and Emma Squires, Susan and Robert Pitcher,
Lynne Squires and Lori Squires, all of Cedar Rapids; and several
nieces, nephews and great-nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Kevin was born March 1, 1952, in Cedar Rapids, to Edward and Lois
McDermott Sterenchuk. He married Patricia Squires on Feb. 27, 1971, in
Cedar Rapids. He was an administrative district chief for the Cedar
Rapids Fire Department and had worked at Mercy Medical Center as a
paramedic for Area Ambulance. He was a member of All Saints Catholic
Church and was the assistant girls basketball coach at Xavier High
School.

Kevin dearly loved his family, his career and coaching basketball.

Instead of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA)
Date: March 29, 2000
Edition: Final
Page: 4
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Kevin F. Sterenchuk,48, of 4206 Vine Ave. SE, died Monday, March 27,
2000, in Mercy Medical Center after a sudden illness. Arrangements are
pending at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home.

Sterenchuk, a firefighter since 1974, headed the department's
specialized teams for river and ice rescues, hazardous materials
handling, and carbon monoxide emergencies. He also oversaw creation of
the technical rescue team, trained and equipped to perform rescues at
area industries, that became operational in 1996.

Sterenchuk, 48, suffered an apparent heart attack Monday morning in
his office at the Central Fire Station. He was pronounced dead at
Mercy Medical Center after attempts to revive him failed.

"Our guys were there right as it happened," Havlik said. "They did a
tremendous job, along with the Area Ambulance (crew) and everyone
else. It just wasn't meant to be."

Sterenchuk, promoted from captain to administrative district chief in
1997, was also the department's liaison to the state and county
Emergency Management agencies, the Linn County Firefighters
Association, and the local Emergency Planning Commission.

He'll also be missed for his personality, Havlik said.

"He was everybody's favorite guy - the most positive, energetic,
fun-loving guy we had in the department," Havlik said. "The guy never
said a bad word about anybody, and it's just a loss for the
department."

District Chief John Pulver said all firefighters undergo annual
physical examinations.

He did not know if Sterenchuk's most recent exam had revealed any
problems, but said he would not be able to comment regardless, due to
confidentiality laws regarding personnel.

Although Sterenchuk was an administrator, his roles, especially with
the Hazmat team, required him to perform hands-on operations and be in
good physical condition as is required of other firefighters, Pulver
said.

Sterenchuk is survived by his wife Patricia and five children.

Gazette staff writer Cindy Hadish contributed to this story.

Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA)
Date: March 28, 2000
Edition: Final
Page: 4