Losing a coworker

Our county fire chief just died on Thursday. It's been upsetting for all of us. Losing someone you've worked with, even if not that closely, for several years is difficult.
Glenn Latimer was an unusual man. Under his gruff exterior, he secreted away a very soft heart, with a special place for children. I will miss his help. With his passing we lost one of the people who knows most about our town and county, about the people who live there, about where nearly everyone lives, and about all the best ways to get to the toughest places. The times I called him to get some kind of information are innumerable. I will miss knowing that he's around to help, or offer advice to all of us. I will miss getting emails from 'Pops'.
This week we're having a proper firefighter's sendoff for him. Hopefully it will help provide a large measure of closure to the many many people who will miss him.