Todd Yandre, chief of the Lake Mills Fire Department, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 15, city staff confirmed.
Yandre had been an employee of the department for more than 40 years, starting as a volunteer responder and rising to become a leader in local and statewide fire fighting communities. He worked for Madison College for 18 years as a fire instructor, training new generations of first responders. He was 61 years old.
“He served with distinction,” City manager Drake Daily said of Yandre. “It’s tough to quantify just how lucky we were to have him as a leader.”
Yandre is survived by his wife, Monica, their son and daughter, and three granddaughters. Initial reports indicated that he died of a cardiac event, city attorney Dan Drescher wrote in a press release.
“Chief Yandre made a profound and lasting impact on his family and friends, the Lake Mills Fire Department, and the Lake Mills community at large,” Drescher wrote.
Following Yandre’s passing, Chief Ron Wegner of the Jefferson Fire Department is acting as chief of the Lake Mills department, Daily said.
Fire departments from Fort Atkinson, Watertown, Jefferson, Sun Prairie, Ixonia, Sullivan, Cambridge and Clyman, Lowell and Reeseville will provide coverage in LMFD’s service area through Sunday, to allow the department time to grieve.
Yandre was an active member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association.
A social media post from the Lake Mills Moravian Church said there will be two visitation opportunities, on Feb. 25 from 4-7 p.m. at Lake Mills Elementary School, and on Feb. 26 from 12-2 p.m., with full honors service beginning at 2 p.m. at Lake Mills Elementary, 155 E. Pine Street.
In the meantime, Drescher asked community members to join the city in celebrating Yandre’s life and service.
“Chief Yandre lived and died a hero, deserving celebration and remembrance,” the release reads.
