The members of the West Grove Fire Company are today mourning the death of brother firefighter and 1st Assistant Engineer William Michael "Mike" Predmore who passed away last evening with his family at his side.

Known all across the region for his smile, strong sense of humor, and his commitment to the fire company, Mike was a beloved husband, father, Boy Scout leader, and emergency director for New London Township.

Mike joined the WGFC in 1990, and quickly became committed to establishing a fire station in New London, where he served as a key driver among a core group of volunteers who moved into the western portion of the WGFC district and became active firefighters. When the company opened its second station in New London, Mike "ruled the roost" and was the force behind shaping the building into an operation to be proud of.

Mike served in a variety of leadership positions at the fire house, and was especially fond of his role as an engineer. His passion for working on trucks and cars served the fire company well. His contributions to the purchases of new apparatus will serve the fire company for the next 25 years, and his maintenance of various apparatus assured a quick and reliable response for the WGFC and the greater community.

As a Boy Scout leader, Mike mentored many young men as they moved from boys to young adults. He applied those same skills at the WGFC, where he taught so many of us how to drive trucks and operate the pumps. Mike could be tough to impress, but most of us are better fire truck operators because of his commitment to teaching us. And his skill at operating fire pumps is widely known in the area -- one of the very best at drafting and moving water.

Because of Mike's love of fixing vehicles, and his experience rehabbing old cars, he quickly became the leader of our efforts to refurbish Antique 22. From starting it for the first time (as a rusted truck in the back of an old barn in upstate PA), to overseeing it's multi-year restoration, Mike has been the driving force on Antique 22 (for more information see: http://www.wgfc.org/apps/public/news/newsView.cfm?News_ID=434 http://www.wgfc.org/content/antique22/
http://www.wgfc.org/apps/public/gallery/?Gallery=Antique%2022 ).

Also, for many years, Mike was a strong contributor of the WGFC fire prevention program, setting the early stage for that program to become what it is today -- one of Pennsylvania's most admired school fire prevention programs run by a volunteer fire company.

Lastly, Mike was the leader of one of the community's most beloved WGFC programs -- the annual visits by Santa Claus at Christmas time on WGFC fire trucks. Mike coordinated the schedule for Santa visits, which became so popular, the WGFC was often running Santa visits in multiple places at the same time -- taking all of those requests and scheduling them was a big job and Mike did it all. But most of all, Mike loved putting on his Santa suit, and sitting on the bumper of Engine 32, riding through the neighborhoods of this community -- often on snowy and cold nights, ice and snow on his suit -- and listening to the little boys and girls tell him what toys they wanted for Christmas. Mike could be a tough guy who always let you know how he felt -- those Santa trips put a smile on his face, and a tear in his eyes.

We knew Mike as a loving husband and father. We knew him as a Boy Scout leader and teacher. And we knew him as a committed WGFC volunteer and community servant for nearly 25 years. Mostly though, we knew him simply as a friend, a man always yearning for the good times, and he will be missed.

A viewing will be held at the Assumption BVM on State Road in West Grove on Thursday evening from 5pm-8pm, and again on Friday morning at 9am. A funeral mass will commence at 10am also at Assumption BVM, followed by a procession to the cemetery. Lunch for participants will follow at WGFC Station 22.

Questions for attending fire companies should be directed to Chief 22.