Help pours in for firefighter’s family

More than 300 people have helped raise nearly $35,000 in less than a month for the family of Kurt Grade, a former member of the Saukville Fire Department who died last month.

His wife Robin is not surprised.

“My husband was a very well-loved man by a lot of people,” she said Tuesday. “It’s a blessing that so many want to help.”

Kurt endured two bouts with cancer in the last couple of years, Robin said. He was 50 when he died Dec. 14 from complications following surgery, less than a week after the 15th anniversary of their first date. They were married in September 2011.

As of Tuesday, a GoFundMe page set up for his family by a friend, Jason Staszko, had raised $34,500 of its $35,000 goal, with 330 people contributing to help pay medical expenses or for college for their 5-year-old daughter Rylee.

More than $20,000 was raised in the page’s first 48 hours.

“He was just one of those people who had a positive impact on everyone,” Robin said. “He was outgoing, funny, nice to everybody and treated everybody equally. I never knew anyone who didn’t like him.”

Kurt, a Grafton native, was a Saukville firefighter and emergency medical technician for 22 years until he retired due to poor health.

He also was a hospital emergency-room technician. The couple met at Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls, said Robin, a nurse and EMT.

His love of the Saukville Fire Department was infectious.

“I joined the Saukville department because of him,” said Robin, who grew up in Brookfield.

His daughter, Nicole, 26, also is a Saukville EMT. 

At his funeral on Dec. 22, every fire department in Ozaukee County was represented. A walk-through by fire department personnel lasted more than 10 minutes, she said.

“It was very impressive,” Robin said. “We’re thankful for everybody. People have sent countless cards and texts and set up a meal train for us. I haven’t cooked in a month.”

Donations can still be made online at www.gofundme.com/kurt-grade-memorial-fund.