July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
A big show of love
A big show of love
By JACK RONALD
Mayor Bruce Hosier’s voice was choking with emotion.
“On behalf of a sad community, we say our final good-bye,” he said. “Heaven has gotten itself one terrific guardian angel.”
Nearly 1,000 people — including several hundred firefighters, police officers, and emergency officials — gathered at Jay County High School Saturday morning to pay their respects to Portland Fire Chief Matt Aker.
Aker, 34, died April 30 after a motorcycle accident on West Votaw Street on the city’s west side.
As an honor guard of firefighters in dress uniforms stood beside a flag-draped coffin, Aker’s wife, Brooke, and his parents, Mike and Linda (Hutchens) Aker accepted hugs and condolences from family, friends, and public officials. A firefighter’s set of emergency gear hung from a rack nearby.
“Life is so fragile,” prayed Pastor Tim Dilley of Asbury United Methodist Church. “And tragedy and death interrupt it.”
In addition to his wife and parents, Aker is survived by his grandmothers, Maxine Aker and Rosie Hutchens, both of Portland; two brothers, Brad Aker (wife: Connie), Bryant, and Chad Aker (wife: Jill), Portland; sister Lori Ferguson (husband: Ted), Portland; and nine nieces and two nephews.
More than 100 members of Aker’s extended family were joined by members of the Portland Fire Department, the Jay County Sheriff’s Department, the Portland Police Department, Jay County Emergency Medical Service, and scores of volunteer firefighters at Saturday’s service.
Dozens of firetrucks and emergency vehicles from surrounding communities took part in a funeral procession stretching for miles as it made its way from the high school, past the fire station, to Green Park Cemetery.
“Wow,” said Pastor Hugh Kelly as he addressed the crowd in the JCHS gym. “What a show of love and support.”
A 1995 graduate of Jay County High School, Aker received a degree in conservation law enforcement from Vincennes University in 1997.
He began service at the Portland Fire Department as a volunteer in that same year.
He began full-time service at the fire department in 2002 and was named assistant fire chief in 2005. He was selected as chief by Mayor Hosier in December 2007.
“Some day I knew he would be chief,” said Sheriff Ray Newton in a statement read by Pastor Dilley.
Newton, who called Aker “my little brother that I never had,” was too choked with emotion to speak.
“Matt was a true friend,” the sheriff wrote. “I looked up to Matt because he became a better leader than me.”
See Aker page 2
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Aker had served as a reserve with the Jay County Sheriff’s Department since 1999 and was appointed captain of the reserves by Newton.
He was also second vice president of the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association and was on track to become president in 2013. On Saturday, he received meritorious service awards from the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office and Gov. Mitch Daniels posthumously.
“This is not a job they go to each day,” said Pastor Dilley of firefighters. “It’s a calling. It’s a way of life.”
Mayor Hosier noted that Aker was an organ donor, saying “Even in death Matt continues to help others.”
In the face of the sudden death of young person, the question of “why” persists, said Pastor Kelly.
“We trust God,” he said, “that He makes no mistakes. … Do not doubt God today.”
Mayor Bruce Hosier’s voice was choking with emotion.
“On behalf of a sad community, we say our final good-bye,” he said. “Heaven has gotten itself one terrific guardian angel.”
Nearly 1,000 people — including several hundred firefighters, police officers, and emergency officials — gathered at Jay County High School Saturday morning to pay their respects to Portland Fire Chief Matt Aker.
Aker, 34, died April 30 after a motorcycle accident on West Votaw Street on the city’s west side.
As an honor guard of firefighters in dress uniforms stood beside a flag-draped coffin, Aker’s wife, Brooke, and his parents, Mike and Linda (Hutchens) Aker accepted hugs and condolences from family, friends, and public officials. A firefighter’s set of emergency gear hung from a rack nearby.
“Life is so fragile,” prayed Pastor Tim Dilley of Asbury United Methodist Church. “And tragedy and death interrupt it.”
In addition to his wife and parents, Aker is survived by his grandmothers, Maxine Aker and Rosie Hutchens, both of Portland; two brothers, Brad Aker (wife: Connie), Bryant, and Chad Aker (wife: Jill), Portland; sister Lori Ferguson (husband: Ted), Portland; and nine nieces and two nephews.
More than 100 members of Aker’s extended family were joined by members of the Portland Fire Department, the Jay County Sheriff’s Department, the Portland Police Department, Jay County Emergency Medical Service, and scores of volunteer firefighters at Saturday’s service.
Dozens of firetrucks and emergency vehicles from surrounding communities took part in a funeral procession stretching for miles as it made its way from the high school, past the fire station, to Green Park Cemetery.
“Wow,” said Pastor Hugh Kelly as he addressed the crowd in the JCHS gym. “What a show of love and support.”
A 1995 graduate of Jay County High School, Aker received a degree in conservation law enforcement from Vincennes University in 1997.
He began service at the Portland Fire Department as a volunteer in that same year.
He began full-time service at the fire department in 2002 and was named assistant fire chief in 2005. He was selected as chief by Mayor Hosier in December 2007.
“Some day I knew he would be chief,” said Sheriff Ray Newton in a statement read by Pastor Dilley.
Newton, who called Aker “my little brother that I never had,” was too choked with emotion to speak.
“Matt was a true friend,” the sheriff wrote. “I looked up to Matt because he became a better leader than me.”
Aker had served as a reserve with the Jay County Sheriff’s Department since 1999 and was appointed captain of the reserves by Newton.
He was also second vice president of the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association and was on track to become president in 2013. On Saturday, he received meritorious service awards from the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office and Gov. Mitch Daniels posthumously.
“This is not a job they go to each day,” said Pastor Dilley of firefighters. “It’s a calling. It’s a way of life.”
Mayor Hosier noted that Aker was an organ donor, saying “Even in death Matt continues to help others.”
In the face of the sudden death of young person, the question of “why” persists, said Pastor Kelly.
“We trust God,” he said, “that He makes no mistakes. … Do not doubt God today.”
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