The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-04-19
Was FAMOUS fire FIGHTER
Attack Of Pneumonia Which Came Six
weeks Ago Is Complicated With
Heart Disease at End 49, Officials
Pay Tribute to His Loyal Work.

The entire city was shocked this
morning by the announcement of the
death Of Henry Isermann, chief Of the
Kenosha fire department. Chief Iser-
mann died at his residence on Bond
street at half past four O'Clock this
morning, following a six weeks illness
from pneumonia which at the end was
complicated with disease of the heart.
He had been in serious condition
for many weeks, but none Of his friends
had been advised that his condition
was critical. Just after two O'Clock
this morning he had relapse and he
sank rapidly until the end came. His
wife and children were at the bedside
when he died.
The death of Chief Isermann marks
the passing of a man who had been
much in official life in Kenosha and a
man who was known as one of the
leading fire fighters not only Of his
home state, but of the whole country.
For years he had been at the very head
of the fire fighters of the country and
he was considered an expert in hand
ling big problems Of the fire depart
ments Of cities. For more than ten
years Chief Isermann had been att the
head Of the Kenosha FIRE department
and in that time he had carried out
his progressive ideas and through them
had brought the department to such a
high degree of excellence, that it was
pointed to as model for all depart.
ments in the state.
Henry A. Isermann was born in Ke-
nosha October 12, 1870. He was a son
Of the late Anton Isermann, one of the
best known of the pioneers of the city
He was educated in the old st. George
School and in the High School of Ke
nosha and he started out in life as a
clerk in his fathers store on Market
street. Later he went to work will
the Balm Wagon Company. He was al
ways "fre fan. - As boy he rar
TO all the fires and just as soon as he
was big enough he enlisted in the vol
unteer fire department. His first ac
tive service in the department was will
the Balm Hook and Ladder Company
which he joined in 1892. He joined the
paid fire department in 1895 and served
as a pipeman and a driver. He haC
come up from the bottom in the depart
ment and his experiences in those
earlier years made him an admirable
head of the department in his mature
manhood.
He was named as assistant chief OF
the department. by James s. Barr. Whe1
Mr.. Barr retired, in 1906, he becam,
"Chief Tsermann. y AS soon as he
was appointed chief, he began to work
,ut plans to make the Kenosha depart
ment the best in the state. He urgec
The installation of new equipment
motor equipment--and he had the
pleasure of knowing that the depart
ment over which he was in command
was the first in the state to have The
full motor equipment.
He worked out advanced ideas il
housing the men who were under hi
command and these plans brought con
tent to the members of the department
In his long official service the real bis
feature of his work was his considera
tion for the men who worked under
him and in all of the fire houses TO-DAY
the men in the ranks dropped tears Of
sorrow ON account of his sudden death
He took an active part in every
movement for the advancement of fir,
prevention and he was regarded as on,
of the leading aids of the Wisconsin
state fire marshal in spreading thi
doctrine. He was a member Of the In
ternational Association of Fire Engin
GERS and the State Firemen s Associa
tion and it was on his invitation AM
on account of his popularity among thu
fire fighters of the state that the stat,
association accepted an invitation t,
hold its annual meeting in Kenosh;
this year.
Members of the Police and Fire Com
mission paid high tribute to him as
fire fighter and as a man, today. Secre
tary Rhode of the commission said, q.
can not express my deep sorrow in tn,
death of Chief Isermann In his dealt
Kenosha has lost one of its most faith
full and efficient officials. His work TO
the department can not be overesti
mated He gave TO the department tn
full mead of service and in dealt