Brian Todd Schimpf, 33, died in Denver, Colo. on Nov. 23, 2013.
He was born in Pusan, South Korea, on March 12, 1980, and adopted by his parents David Schimpf, of Duluth, Minn., and Ann Linnea, of Freeland, Wash., on March 24, 1981.
He grew up in Duluth, moved to Whidbey Island in 1994 and graduated from South Whidbey High School in 1998. He became a volunteer firefighter and EMT at age 16 and was a Hometown Hero in 1998; that story now archived in the book of the same name.
He attended Oklahoma State University in fire management, University of Minnesota, in Duluth, and received an associate degree from Red Rocks Community College, in Denver.
Following his vocational call to emergency medicine, he achieved his paramedic certification in 2004 from St. Anthony’s Hospital Paramedic School in Denver and worked most of his career at Denver Health where he was an instructor at Denver Health Paramedic School.
His most recent employment was as captain of Emergency Medical Services for Grand County, CO. He was an award-winning professional who leaves a legacy in his teaching skills and mentoring of young paramedics and EMTs.
Brian was a voracious reader and an avid out-doorsman in Colorado and Minnesota. He loved camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and hiking and jeeping in the Colorado high country. He was a dedicated downhill skier wherever he could find a hill. He loved children, and leaves to his nephew, Jaden, his
LEGO-cy.
Brian was injured twice in the line of duty, and in September 2012, survived a horrendous late night truck accident in the mountains after responding to emergency calls. He had been in a prolonged and difficult healing process of multiple therapies and surgeries for the last 14 months of his life. He was vital and strong, looking forward to returning to his profession early next year. He suffered cardiac arrest after his latest surgery.
He was preceded in death by grandparents, Jack and Miriam Schimpf, of Chicago, Ill. and Frank Brown, of Austin, Minn.; and is survived by his grandmother, Astrid Brown.
He is survived by his father and mother and his mother’s partner, Christina Baldwin; his sister, Sally Schimpf, her partner Joe Villarreal and nephew and niece, Jaden and Sasha Villarreal, of Los Angeles, Calif. He was a master at friendship and will be profoundly missed and remembered by extended family and friends. In Denver and Grand County he is mourned by the paramedic and emergency services community who respected his compassion, presence, and leadership.
A line-of-duty memorial service will be held at noon on Dec. 12, at Denver First Church of the Nazarene, Englewood Colo. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to The Brian Schimpf Education Memorial Fund, c/o Bellco Credit Union, 244 Milwaukee St., Denver, CO 80206. There will be a service in Duluth and private remembrances here on Whidbey. Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box
