Loss of fire chief a shock to Zumbro Falls community

Editor's note: The print version of the article contained an error in the quote from the Wabasha County Sheriff's Office Facebook Page. This has been corrected online and the Graphic e-edition for this week. A correction will appear in next week's Graphic.

The Zumbro Falls community suffered a big loss with the unexpected death of Dan Preble on Oct. 9.

Preble, who was 52, spent over three decades on the Zumbro Falls Fire Department. At the time of his death, he was its chief.

“That was kind of his passion,” said Bruce Heitmann, Zumbro Falls mayor and assistant fire chief. “He was very active in it. He moved up through ranks quite quickly.”

Losing Preble so suddenly was a shock to the community, and the department, he said.

“As chief you do a lot of the budgeting and stuff like that. Now everybody’s got to kind of step up to the plate and fill that hole,” he said.

Heitmann said he’s known Preble since the chief was about 10 years old.

Even then he displayed some of the qualities that would turn him into a community leader.

“He was a good likeable person; a good jolly kid, very outgoing,” Heitmann said. “He got along with everyone.”

Heitmann described the tributes he’s seen for Preble as “unreal.”

For instance, a video on Facebook of Preble’s funeral procession as it turned from Highway 60 onto County Road 6 had 10,000 views after being online only a few hours Monday.

In 2017 the population of Zumbro Falls was estimated at 242.

Public safety organizations from Wabasha County and the City of Lake City joined others in paying tribute to Preble.

“We would like to express our deepest sypmathy to the family of Dan Preble. Zumbro Falls Fire Chief, family man, friend and ZF community member. He will truly be missed. Rest in peace Dan, Thank You for your service,” the Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office posted.

The Lake City and Zumbrota fire departments together raised a large American flag at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, where Preble’s funeral was held Monday.

Aside from his community service, Preble enjoyed four-wheeling, hunting, fishing, and trips up north with his wife and granchildren.

“He thought a lot of them,” Heitmann said.

Asked what people should know about Preble, Heitmann said “the biggest was that he was always the life of the party. He always made sure things were upbeat. He kept everybody going.”