Springfield FF Non-LODD Fatality

[rfd599]

To all:

I received a call from a friend of mine stated that a Springfield Firefighter was killed yesterday in a motorcycle accident. If so, could you please post any info regarding this tradegy. I am sure some of our firefighters would be interested in attending the service.

Sincerely,

rfd599
www.IllinoisFireStore.com

[freeport441]

check the AFFI homepage.

[bobbymurphy]

State Journal Register
Published Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Services have been set for Springfield firefighter Jacob “Jake” Lessen, who was killed in a motorcycle crash Sept. 4 in rural Sangamon County.

A funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at the Firefighters Lake Club, 940 West Lake Drive. Visitation also will take place there, from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln is handling the arrangements.

Lessen, 33, of Sherman, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that involved three other motorcycles on Old Jacksonville Road west of Berlin.

Services had been pending while Lessen’s wife, Kristin “Kristi” Lessen, 34 - who also was badly injured in the accident - recovered at Memorial Medical Center. She was released Monday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Also injured in the crash were Springfield police Lt. Craig Sim, 48, and his sons, Matthew Sim, 21, and Nicholas Sim, 19, both of whom live in Sherman. All three were treated at Memorial and released the next day.

Both Lessen and Sim were off-duty at the time of the accident.

Lessen’s family asked that Springfield firefighters serve as an honor guard for the funeral, and Mayor Tim Davlin has ordered all city flags to be flown at half-staff until dusk Thursday.

Lessen had been a member of the Springfield Fire Department since May 2003 and worked out of Station No. 11 on Toronto Road. He also had been a firefighter and technical sergeant with the Illinois Air National Guard’s 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield.

In addition, he worked as a referee for the Capital Area Officials Association.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Jake Lessen Memorial Firefighter Scholarship Fund.

Amanda Reavy can be reached at 788-1525 or