Retired Grayslake, Ill., Fire Chief Rodney Rockenbach died March 30, at age 89. According to the Grayslake Fire Protection Service, Rockenbach spent 48 years on that department, 38 of those years as chief. He retired in 1993. In 1979, Rockenbach became the second volunteer chief to serve as president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He had been active in the association since 1961.

"The fire service has lost a great leader. Chief Rockenbach has contributed greatly to our association and will be sorely missed," said IAFC President Chief Jim Harmes.

In addition to his time at the IAFC, Rockenbach served as director of the Southern Wisconsin–Northern Illinois Fireman’s Association. He also was an instructor at the Illinois Fire College at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and he served as director of the Monroe Fire School in Monroe, Wis. Rockenbach was featured on the July 1980 cover of FIRE CHIEF magazine.