Encyclopedia Dubuque
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BROWN, Dan
BROWN, Dan. (Dubuque, IA--Dubuque, IA, Feb. 21, 2025). Dan, the son of Everett and Mary (Sanger) Brown, graduated from DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL in 1974. After high school he worked for Al Beyer at BEYER AVIATION until joining the Dubuque Fire Department in 1983. On June 9, 1984, he married Karen Bleile at Westminster Presbyterian Church. (1)
In 1996 City Manager Michael VAN MILLIGEN recommended Brown to become the city's next fire chief. A 1974 graduate of DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, Brown was a certified emergency medical technician, CPR instructor, and hazardous materials technician. He joined the FIRE DEPARTMENT in 1982.
Brown was given credit for keeping the department up-to-date with technological advances and creating a value within the department for constant education and training. He was responsible for establishing the department's hazardous-materials training and led efforts for the department to obtain a fire rescue boat in the 1990s. He was a leader in the creation of the Dubuque County Emergency Responder Training Facility used by law enforcement and fire-safety groups from throughout the county. (2)
Brown had to call out every available firefighter to help with the disaster caused by FLOODS (Record) in July, 2011.
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Source:
1. Obituary, February 26, 2025, p. 12A
2. Jacobson, Ben, "Farewell to Chief who Fired Up Department," Telegraph Herald, January 7, 2014, p. 3