After 56 Years, Beloved Firefighter Says Goodbye

Now and then, you read a story about someone, and it makes you wonder what you can do to make the world a better place.

I've been reading about a volunteer firefighter who has been serving people in his community since 1969. Although he is finally retiring at the age of 79 after years and years of service, his heart is breaking.

KELLY MALECHA REMEMBERS HER FATHER RESPONDING TO CALLS

Watching the video of his daughter, Kelly Malecha, talking about how she remembers her Dad when she was a kid. As soon as a call came in, her Dad would get up immediately when he heard it ring. She says he never even waited to find out what was happening. If the radio went off, he was getting up and heading out the door as soon as possible.

The fireman we are talking about is 79-year-old Pete Lundell.

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PETE LUNDELL SERVED AS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER FOR 56 YEARS

Pete has served the Rosemount Fire Department for 56 years! Can you imagine? That service makes Pete Minnesota's longest-serving firefighter.

Recently, there was a celebration for Pete held at the Police and Public Works Campus, and it appears that droves of people came out to congratulate Pete, thank him for his dedication, and give him a well-deserved pat on the back for all he has done for his community.

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THE DESIRE TO BE A FIREFIGHTER HAS NOT GONE AWAY FOR PETE

As the video shows pictures of Pete walking through the fire station to his locker, you can see all of the family photos that he has posted there. His family was always the first thing he saw before he went on a call, and the first thing he saw when he headed home. Pete has clearly learned from his service how precious life is, and now he will have time to spend more time with those whom he loves.

But you can't take the fire out of the firefighter. His desire to serve hasn't gone away. Pete says his body just finally told him it was time to hang it up.

WHAT WILL PETE LUNDELL DO WITH ALL HIS FREE TIME IN RETIREMENT?

So what will Pete be doing with all his free time? He is now part of Rosemount Elite, retired firefighters who all get together once a month for breakfast. He'll be doing that, he'll be spending more time at his cabin, and he still plans on visiting the fire station to visit his firefighting family.

CONGRATULATIONS GOING OUT TO PETE LUNDELL

Congratulations and thanks go out to Pete. What a great example of what we should all be doing for our neighbors. I hope this story helps you find something you're passionate about that can give you joy and help others, just as Pete's love of firefighting did for him.

You can watch the touching video that brought me to tears below.