South Shore Fire Department’s first-ever chief has died

Journal Times staff

MOUNT PLEASANT — Bill Bouma, the South Shore Fire Department’s first-ever chief, has died.

Bill Bouma. Photo Tuesday October 14, 2008. / Mark Hertzberg Journal Times

Mark Hertzberg

Bouma retired Oct. 4, 2012, after serving as the first chief of South Shore following the merger of the Sturtevant Fire Department and the Mount Pleasant Fire Department, which he had also been chief of.

Among his achievements was establishing MABAS (the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) in Wisconsin, allowing fire departments to more easily call from help from neighboring departments.

Retired Mount Pleasant Fire Chief Bill Bouma on the set of the TV show “Chicago Fire,” where Bouma said he was one of only four extras to wear the white command shirt.

Submitted

The South Shore Fire Department announced Bouma’s passing Sunday evening. He had been battling multiple cancers.

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Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

A staff member works up the residents before the start of a Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by Friday afternoon in the parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

Staff and residents cheer as Mount Pleasant Police Department officers and the South Shore Fire Department pass by during a Memorial Day Celebration drive-by parade Friday afternoon in the in parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

Ridgewood resident Norman Golden waves a flag during a Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by Friday.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

Staff and residents cheer as Mount Pleasant Police Department officers and the South Shore Fire Department pass by during a Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by Friday afternoon in the parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

A Ridgewood resident watches as Mount Pleasant Police Department officers pass by during a Memorial Day Celebration drive-by parade Friday afternoon.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

During a Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by Friday afternoon in the in parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center The parade featured families of residents, South Shore Fire Department, Mt. Pleasant Police Department, Little Miss Wisconsin USA, and Miss Racine.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

A family cheers and waves the American flag during a Memorial Day Celebration drive-by parade Friday afternoon in the parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

A family waves to the residents during Ridgewood’s Memorial Day Celebration drive-by parade.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

A family waves to the Ridgewood residents.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

Miss Racine Sophia Karegeannes sings the national anthem Friday’s drive-by parade at Ridgewood Care Center’s parking lot.

A drive-by Memorial Day parade

Residents and staff enjoy a Memorial Day drive-by parade on Friday afternoon in the parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center, 3205 Wood Road, Mount Pleasant. The parade featured families of residents, the South Shore Fire Department, the Mount Pleasant Police Department, Little Miss Wisconsin USA and Miss Racine.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

A staff member works up the residents before the start of a Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by Friday afternoon in the parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

Staff and residents cheer as Mount Pleasant Police Department officers and the South Shore Fire Department pass by during a Memorial Day Celebration drive-by parade Friday afternoon in the in parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

Ridgewood resident Norman Golden waves a flag during a Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by Friday.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

Staff and residents cheer as Mount Pleasant Police Department officers and the South Shore Fire Department pass by during a Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by Friday afternoon in the parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

A Ridgewood resident watches as Mount Pleasant Police Department officers pass by during a Memorial Day Celebration drive-by parade Friday afternoon.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

During a Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by Friday afternoon in the in parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center The parade featured families of residents, South Shore Fire Department, Mt. Pleasant Police Department, Little Miss Wisconsin USA, and Miss Racine.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

A family cheers and waves the American flag during a Memorial Day Celebration drive-by parade Friday afternoon in the parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

A family waves to the residents during Ridgewood’s Memorial Day Celebration drive-by parade.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

A family waves to the Ridgewood residents.

Memorial Day Celebration Drive-by

Miss Racine Sophia Karegeannes sings the national anthem Friday’s drive-by parade at Ridgewood Care Center’s parking lot.

A drive-by Memorial Day parade

Residents and staff enjoy a Memorial Day drive-by parade on Friday afternoon in the parking lot of Ridgewood Care Center, 3205 Wood Road, Mount Pleasant. The parade featured families of residents, the South Shore Fire Department, the Mount Pleasant Police Department, Little Miss Wisconsin USA and Miss Racine.

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