Firefighter honored with one last trip around the track
CINDY TOOPES
Courier Staff Writer
The Ottumwa Courier
OTTUMWA, IOWA
(October 29) - One more lap on the Eldon Raceway track. That was a special
request of Peewee Weeks, a longtime volunteer of the Wapello County Rural
Fire Department.
At least 50 people gathered this week at the track to watch Bill Reece of
Reece Funeral Home drive his hearse around the Raceway for Weeks’ “victory
lap.”
This time Weeks’ brother, Tom, couldn’t be with him. The two were as close
as any brothers can be, and they both enjoyed racing and working on cars.
But Tom Weeks couldn’t be with his brother for this run on the track. He
stood on the sidelines with family members and watched as the hearse cruised
by. In one arm, he held a laminated copy of a Des Moines Register article
about Peewee and him and their love of automobiles.
The two brothers were close in another way. Weeks received a stem cell
transplant Aug. 3 (blood marrow transplant, approved June 15) from Tom Weeks
and the donation was a 96 percent match. That’s close.
Weeks’ family certainly is grieving for him and will always miss him. So
will his other “family” — the Wapello County Rural Fire Department, a
volunteer unit. Members say they’ve “lost one of their own” and will honor
Weeks today during the funeral service.
After joining the department in January 2001, Weeks battled many fires and
even fought cancer for eight years and won. But, after the transplant, his
immune system dropped down and other complications, such as infection,
claimed his life.
Weeks’ victory lap at the track was Tuesday evening and so was the rural
firefighters’ meeting to discuss how they would honor Weeks during today’s
funeral services.
Firefighter Curtis Woten said the Ottumwa Fire Department is loaning their
snorkel truck so they can display a huge U.S. flag near Ottumwa High School,
where Weeks’ son, David, is a student.
“After everything is over, we’ll give Peewee’s turnout gear to David,” he
said.
The Iowa Firefighters Association has loaned mourning bunting to Wapello
County Rural Fire for use during the funeral and procession.
Woten said firefighters from Ottumwa, Blakesburg, Agency and Eddyville plan
to attend. Their calls will be handled by other fire departments.
Fire Chief Wes Woten said Weeks responded to the department’s needs whenever
possible.
“He drove the truck, fought fires, ran the ‘Jaws,’” the fire chief said. “He
was a big help — always ready to help or do what was needed.”
Curtis Woten joked a bit about Weeks.
“Aw, he was just like the rest of us. When the fire alarm went off, he
wanted to get in and get dirty and play,” he said.
Weeks’ funeral will be 10 a.m. today at Reece Funeral Home, 607 E. Second
St., Ottumwa.
For more about Weeks and his battle, go online to
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/peeweeweeks.
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