by Dennis Dalman
Long-time Sartell firefighter Claude Dingmann, now retired, was given the Legacy Award during an annual awards ceremony at which many other firefighters were also honored with awards.
The ceremony took place March 8 at The Waters church in Sartell.
The Legacy Award is presented to a retired firefighter who is nominated and voted on by retired and active Sartell firefighters.
Claude Dingmann was referred to as a “trailblazer” at the award presentation. During his 36 years of service, he responded to 3,500 fire calls and missed only 18 calls in all those years. That 99.5 percent of responses by one firefighter is considered incredibly rare for that amount of service time – almost four decades.
Dingmann was lauded for introducing new technology systems to the department and working tirelessly to keep those systems up and running.
Years ago, he started a laid-back, informal get-together called “Saturday Coffee at the Firehouse,” at which firefighters could get together at 8 a.m. on Saturday mornings to socialize informally in a relaxed atmosphere, a pleasant way to decompress after a week’s work.
Dingmann still meets for lunch with other retired firefighters most Saturdays at Marnanteli’s Pizza.
Dingmann was presented the Legacy Award by Lucas Dingmann, his son, who is the assistant fire chief and, who, like his father, has given so much time, hard work and pride in serving on the Sartell Fire Department.
Other award-winners at the ceremony were the following:
Rookie Firefighter of the Year: David Pauna was selected to receive the award on a vote by his peers. He was cited for his dedication, quick learning and commitment to excellence.
Firefighter of the Year: Tim Elness was recognized for this honor, as voted by his peers. The citation states this: “Elness’s exemplary performance, leadership and selflessness in the line of duty have earned him this prestigious accolade.” Elness is also a member of the Sartell City Council.
Fire Officer of the Year: Robert Johnson’s peers honored him for “outstanding leadership, professionalism and dedication to the department’s mission.”
Leadership Award: Nominated by his peers, Adam Imholte was praised for his “leadership qualities, inspiration to others and dedication to the department.
Chief’s Award: Brian Heim was chosen for his “exemplary service and dedication to duty, embodying the highest standards of professionalism.”
Public Servant Awards: Brian Heim and Rusty Deters were both recognized for “extraordinary commitment and dedication to serving the community, going above and beyond the call of duty in public events and engagements.”
Teamwork Award: This honor was given to the entire fire-department members for their “exceptional performance and teamwork during the challenging apartment fire of Jan. 19, 2023.”
The citation stated this: Their courage, compassion and unity in the face of adversity exemplify the department’s commitment to serving the community.
Claude Dingmann, retired Sartell firefighter, received the prestigious Legacy Award at an awards banquet March 8 at The Waters church in Sartell. Dingmann served on the Sartell department for 36 years. His son, Lucas, on the right, is now the Sartell assistant fire chief. At left is Sartell Fire Chief Peter Kedrowski.
