Reily VFD couple leaving after collective 42 years

A couple with the Reily Volunteer Fire Department (RVFD) have announced they’ll be leaving after a collective 42 years of service.

Michael Schwab announced his retirement during an RVFD meeting on May 7, and his wife, Julie Schwab, announced her resignation from the emergency medical services (EMS) team. 

Chief Clayton Lightfield told the Oxford Free Press on behalf of the RVFD, “We appreciated everything they’ve done for the fire department – their years of service, of dedication and leadership – and we’d just like to thank them.”

Michael has worked for the RVFD in a variety of roles for 30 years, including as a volunteer firefighter and eventually captain.

He obtained his Ohio Firefighter II Certification, his emergency medical technician-basic (EMT-B) certification, among other certifications, through the fire science program at Hocking College.

Michael and former lieutenant Roy Wesselman started the large animal rescue unit at the RVFD in 2004, which Michael said believes was the first in the state. He also started grain bin rescue at RVFD, for which he said his late aunt Carol Schwab wrote a grant for grain rescue tubes.

Over the course of three decades, Michael Schwab said the community is what kept him working for the RVFD.

“Helping the neighbors, the friends and the family and the appreciation that the community had,” he said of why he stayed, adding although the decision to retire was “extremely hard,” he doesn’t have many regrets, and it’s “time for a new chapter” of his life.

“It’s been a great time,” Michael said. “Lots of memories … (and) just having a lot of fun, whether it’s at trainings or meetings.”

He said he has “much respect” for the remaining crew members, and the advice he leaves with them is to “just make sure they have each other’s backs.”

Nick Schwab, a Reily Township trustee, is Michael Sr.’s uncle and was an EMT for 27 years and volunteered with the RVFD since it was established in 1998 up until he retired in February.

Nick described his nephew as being “very involved” at the RVFD and said, while losing both him and Julie at once could be tough, with all of the new people starting at the RVFD, they’ll be OK and wished the couple the “best of luck.” 

Julie has been an EMT-B for about 12 years with the EMS team at the RVFD and a CPR instructor for the past year. She’s also been a nurse for most of her life and said she originally joined the EMS team because she wanted to “give back.”

She said this year seemed like a good time to resign, so she and her husband can “focus more towards family.” The Schwabs will also use this time to continue working on their farm while maintaining other work.

“We had years and years of good memories,” Julie said of her time with the team, adding it has previously participated in events like the Reily Township Founders’ Day, Trick-or-Treat, a fish fry and the 4th of July parade. 

One year, she said the team participated in “donkey basketball,” a community fundraiser event wherein participants try to score points while riding donkeys.

“Most of us just kind of made the best of the time that we spent together, no matter what the situation was,” Julie said. “I think that’s part of what I’m going to miss the most … the friends that I made and the camaraderie that we had for years.”

Julie said of working alongside her family at the RVFD, “It’s been cool running with them and being able to be on scenes and share those experiences all together. I don’t think a lot of people get to do things like that.”

Michael’s sons and Julie’s stepsons, Michael Schwab, Jr., and AJ Schwab, also have histories with the RVFD. 

Michael Jr. previously worked for the RVFD but has since transitioned to the Hanover Township Fire Department. AJ is a firefighter and first responder with the RVFD, and AJ’s wife, Morgan Schwab, is an EMT-B.

Michael Jr. said he was practically raised at the RVFD, going to their parties, training, fish-fries and other donation activities.

“I got older and I was like, ‘Well, if dad did it all these years, I might as well try it,’” Michael Jr. said. “And I like helping people out, too … You can help somebody on their worst day of their life.”

For the six years Michael Jr. worked at the RVFD, Michael Sr. was his captain, and Michael Jr. said his dad “could do it all.”

“If he was running command of a fire scene, he was making sure he had the right mutual aid coming, and then he was also making sure his personnel was being safe and everything,” Michael Jr. said, adding his dad taught him tricks to keep calm during and after intense runs.

Michael Jr. remembered the times Julie would stay behind and cook dinner for everyone if the whole family had to go on a run at once, so they’d have something to eat when they got back. And when he went on runs with her, he described her as being “professional,” "knowledgeable" and overall "fantastic” on the scene.

AJ said growing up around the fire department and being part of training and outings as a kid made him want to give back to the community by joining the department as an adult. He said Michael Sr. showed him “the ropes,” answering any questions he had and offering help and support. 

Meanwhile, he said Julie was able to keep calm and pull everyone together to “get the job done” in stressful situations.

“I’m proud of them and everything that they’ve done and what they’ve done with the community and how they’ve helped out with leadership,” AJ said, adding Michael Sr. inspired him to become a leader, and he was recently promoted to a lieutenant.

Morgan said she had previously worked in a hospital when she started seeing AJ in 2021. Going to training and listening to his pager made her want to pursue her EMT-B, and she’s been running with the EMS team ever since. 

She said Michael Sr. and Julie have helped with breaking down information or scenarios while training for situations.

“They’re both very knowledgeable in that aspect, but it’s also, you have family that is right there with you,” Morgan said of working alongside her in-laws. “It was nice to have people there that you were already close to and had that relationship with … because you already had a trust built.”

Morgan said of Michael Sr. and Julie, “What they have taught everybody will definitely move forward and be passed on.”