Retired Burnaby firefighter Mark Schiebler passed away recently from pancreatic cancer. He was 68.
Schiebler, a New Westminster resident, worked for the Burnaby Fire Department for more than three decades.
Bill Watson, retired assistant chief training officer with the Burnaby department, spoke highly of Schiebler; they were best friends and long-time colleagues.
“He was just a hell of a fireman,” Watson said. “He did his job well, and we’re all going to miss him. He was just taken too quick.”
Watson described Schiebler as a healthy, active man who was involved in sports, his family and charitable work. The two friends played golf regularly.
“I could call on him for anything. If you were his friend, you could call him up at two in the morning, and he would bail you out,” Watson said. “Mark was one heck of a guy. He did a lot for other people.”
Schiebler spent 33 years in the Burnaby Fire Department. He started at age 21, and when he retired in 2001, he was the chief fire prevention officer.
This January, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given mere months to live. He died on April 10.
Schiebler’s son Jeff, who is also a firefighter, said family was number 1 for his father.
“He was married for 45 years. We really had a perfect childhood growing up,” Jeff said. “Very humble man; he worked hard. He was very quiet. He was the type of guy who had a quick-witted one-liner sense of humour.”
Much of Mark’s close family lived in the Queen’s Park neighbourhood.
“One of my dad’s final sayings, and this relates back to family, … he’s most proud of his three kids, his 10 grandchildren, and they are all a nine iron away,” Jeff said, explaining the golf-reference meant they all lived close.
Jeff said firefighting was a huge part of his father’s identity, and he passed away wearing his Burnaby firefighters T-shirt. Jeff also said Mark wanted any donations in his memory to go to the Burnaby Firefighters’ Charitable Society. To donate, call 604-434-1717.
Schiebler left behind his wife, Lynda, two other children in addition to Jeff and 10 grandchildren.
There will be a celebration of Schiebler’s life on Saturday, May 2, at 1 p.m. at the Firefighters Public House at 6515 Bonsor Ave. in Burnaby. Current firefighters are asked to dress in full uniform.
