He was part of a firefighter brethren who shared a strong bond and dedication to protect their local area.

The area firefighting community is in mourning following the passing of former Palmerton fire Chief Joseph Kercsmar.

Kercsmar, 73, of Palmerton, died on Feb. 20.

The husband of Joann M. Kercsmar, he was employed for over 43 years by the Borough of Palmerton, retiring in 2014.

A lifelong member of the Palmerton Volunteer Fire Company, he worked his way up from junior firefighter in 1968, to becoming fire chief of both Departments #1, and #2 West End.

Kercsmar also served as EMA coordinator for the borough.

A love of life

Kercsmar enjoyed the outdoors, especially deer hunting with his son and friends.

Fellow firefighter Dennis Behler attested to Kercsmar’s passion for both hunting and bowling.

“We did hunting together, we bowled together,” Behler said. “In the month of October, November, and half of December, our typical day was go to work 7 (a.m.) to 3:30 (p.m.), be in a reservoir tree hunting by 4:10 (p.m.) until dark every day but Thursday when we bowled. I spent more time with Joe then probably his wife did.”

Behler said Kercsmar started with the borough in 1970, and in 1981 Behler got hired for the borough. Together, the two worked roughly 34 years together.

“I didn’t know him until the ninth grade, we were friends in school,” Behler said. “Then I joined the West End Fire Company, he was already there and we became better friends.”

A volunteer firefighter for over 50 years, Behler retired from his fire chief responsibilities in 2018.

“He was my best friend,” he said. “I considered him a brother, and I’m going to miss him.”

Former borough Mayor Rodger Danielson was also well acquainted with Kercsmar, who was employed by the borough before Danielson arrived there.

“He was very conscientious, and very good for the borough,” Danielson said.

Danielson said Kercsmar was the epitome of serving one’s community.

“He loved working at the borough, loved his fire department duties,” he said. “It was his personality to serve the community.”

Fire chiefs reflect

Palmerton Fire Chief Jason Behler said he has known Kercsmar forever due to his friendship with his father, Dennis.

“Because they were so close, as far back as I could remember, birthday parties, high school graduation, Joe was always there,” Behler said. “We spent a lot of time hunting, fishing.”

Behler said Kercsmar was fun to be around.

“He had an electric smile that lit up the room, he was proud of his fire department, proud of everything that his department did,” he said. “A lot of that just instilled in a lot of the membership, more than I think he ever could imagine and made that place what it is today.”

Behler recounted one story in particular about Kercsmar shortly after Behler’s 18th birthday when he first got to fight the interior of an actual fire.

“I remember being inside of a house that was burning,” he said. “I was in living room by myself, had a hand line, and in the middle of it, I just felt this hand on my shoulder asking how I was doing; out of everything he was doing, he took the time to see how I was doing, and that just means a lot.”

Behler noted that Kercsmar served the department for 57 years.

“He’s touched so many people,” he said. “He mentored a lot of people, taught a lot of people, he just loved to share his knowledge.”

Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company posted on Facebook its heartfelt condolences to the Kercsmar family and the Palmerton Fire Department.

“Joe made a lasting impact on so many, offering his expertise, leadership, and commitment throughout his years of service,” the post states. “His loss is deeply felt within the fire service community, and his legacy will continue to inspire for years ahead.”

Aquashicola Fire Chief Bill George said he knew both Kercsmar and his wife his whole life as they were all classmates.

“Joe was always a good easy going guy, easy to work with at fires, always a team player when you called mutual aid, whether us to them or them to here,” George said. “He was a quiet guy, very low key, no drama, just get to the point, get the job done.

“He was great to work with. A good human.”

His obituary appears on page 4 today.