Battalion Chief David M. Lachenauer

Battalion Chief David M. Lachenauer, 61, of 28343 Lotts Grove, Three Mile Bay, passed away peacefully at his home overlooking Lake Ontario on March 23, 2018 following a courageous battle with cancer. He was under the care of Hospice of Jefferson County and surrounded by his loving family and dearest friends.

Chief Lachenauer was one of many First Responders to the World Trade Center on September 11th where he helped work The Pile for three days before returning home. He was there during the worst, risking his life in hopes of saving others. Sadly, Chief Lachenauer’s reward for these heroic efforts was to contract cancer which he has battled for more than a year.

Calling hours will be 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, March 26 at the Hart & Bruce Funeral Home, 117 N. Massey St., Watertown.

The Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 27 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.  Burial will be11 a.m. Friday, May 11th  in Glenwood Cemetery.

He was born on June 27, 1956, in Watertown, son of George and Helen (Gartland) Lachenauer.  From an early age he worked for the Watertown Daily Times and continued into his early adulthood.  He graduated from Watertown High School in 1975 and as a proponent of lifelong learning earned an associates degree from Corning Community College in 2000 and graduated from Executive Fire Officer School in Maryland.

Following high school, David was a driver for Anchor Motor Freight on Wesley Island.  On April 29, 1985 David joined the City of Watertown Fire Department and became a firefighter.  He would go on to be promoted to Fire Captain and retired on March 5, 2018 as Battalion Chief.   He was the former Treasurer and Union President of Local 191, Vice Chairman of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, as well as being instrumental in bringing Hazmat equipment and training to our local area.

He was the former Chief of Three Mile Bay Fire Department and member for many years as well as an EMT for Three Mile Bay and Dexter Ambulance Squads.

He worked for Atlantic Inland in Watertown as a building inspector and was a Code Enforcement Officer throughout the north country for many years.

He was an avid deer and duck hunter, loved boating and fishing, reading about history, and most of all spending time with his grandchildren.

Among his survivors are his wife, Cindy L. Lachenauer, his four children and their spouses, Jason R. and Heather West, Clayville, NY, Sarah M. and Steven Burke, Ithaca, Jamie L. and Michael Jesmer, Watertown, Laura M. Lachenauer and her fiancé A.J. Durham, Adams, four grandchildren, Tyler, Brienna, Garrett and Liam, three brothers and their wives, Charles and Karen Lachenauer, Gloversville, NY, Edward and Sheryl Lachenauer, Three Mile Bay, Michael and Christine Lachenauer, Chaumont, many nieces and nephews.

Donations may be made to Hospice of Jefferson County 1398 Gotham St., Watertown or the benevolent Fire Fighter Scholarship Fund c/o Watertown City Fire Department 224 S. Massey St., Watertown, NY 13601.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartandbrucefh.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Battalion Chief David M. Lachenauer, please visit our floral store.