Nesquehoning fire services paid their respects to a longtime volunteer who died late last week.

On Thursday morning, Lansford and Nesquehoning ladder trucks were set up at the intersection of routes 209 and 93 to bid farewell to Richard “Denny” Creitz.

Creitz, who owned Creitz Tune-up Service Center at the same location, passed away on April 15 at the age of 71.

Nesquehoning and Lansford fire department volunteers, as well as fire police from New Columbus, Lansford and Franklin Township provided a safe passage to the Slovak Protestant Cemetery on the east end of town.

Beverly Schiano, captain of the New Columbus Fire Police, said that Creitz “served our community for many years and this was our way to pay our respects to him one last time.”

A firetruck procession carrying Creitz’s ashes were driven from the Joseph Blazosky Funeral Home to the cemetery.

John McArdle, fire chief for Nesquehoning Hose Company No. 1, where Creitz served as a volunteer firefighter and captain of the borough fire police for over 50 years, previously said that this was Creitz’s final wish.

Creitz was born in Coaldale was known a Nesquehoning native, belonging to the fire company and former Nesquehoning Ambulance. He was also a member of the Nesquehoning Historical Society, local historian and board member to the borough water authority.