In Marty Hauer’s final days before cancer took his life at the age of 41, the firefighter made sure he did something for his 10-year-old son, Colton, that he had done so many other times over the previous years.
“One of the last things he did was watch his son play baseball,” said Kent Fire Department chaplain Pat Ellis, who spoke to a crowd of more than 1,200 at a memorial service June 10 for Hauer at Christian Faith Center in Federal Way. “I don’t know if he could have had it better than that.”
More than 100 Kent-area firefighters, as well as more than 300 firefighters from across the state, attended the two-hour service. Hauer died June 3 after a year-long battle with thymic carcinoma, a rare type of thymus-gland cancer.
A video presentation on three large screens showed photos of Hauer as a boy, a husband and a father. There were shots of him fishing, swimming, hunting, playing baseball, riding a motorcycle, coaching baseball and working as a Kent firefighter.
His survivors include his wife, Kris, Colton and 9-year-old daughter, Rylee, all of Covington; his parents, Pete and Kathy of Montana; brothers Monte and Mitch; and a sister, Marie. Donations can be made to the Marty Hauer Family Fund at any Washington Mutual Bank and to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance at www.seattlecca.org.
Fifty fire vehicles from across the state participated in a processional along State Route 18, from Kent Fire Station 75 to the church.
Family and close friends of Hauer walked through an honor guard to enter the church. A replica of a Kent Fire Department fire engine served as the podium during the service. Hauer’s firefighting gear and a portrait of him were displayed near the podium.
The love Hauer demonstrated for his family, work and life in general became the theme of the service.
“Marty lived each day as if it were a gift,” Kent fire chief Jim Schneider said. “He would want everyone to do the same.”
Hauer worked 15 years as a Kent firefighter. He previously worked as a carpenter, loan officer and restaurant manager.
Hauer grew up in Montana, where he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He moved to Washington to attend Green River Community College on a baseball scholarship, but returned annually to Montana for fishing or hunting trips with fellow firefighters.
In addition to firefighting, Hauer helped develop and promote firefighter fitness programs across the nation in support of the International Association of Firefighters Wellness Fitness Initiative. He worked to try to develop a wellness center for firefighters and police officers in the Puget Sound area, a place that would help to prevent injuries as well as provide rehabilitation for those injured on the job.
“His dream was to develop a regional wellness center,” Wright said. “We’re not quite there yet, but I’m confident we will have a Marty Hauer Wellness Center.”
Wright described Hauer’s fierce determination in everything he did, but said that it was something else that made Hauer a friend of so many.
“It was his kindness and gentleness that attracted me to Marty,” Wright said.
Hauer displayed that kindness and gentleness as a coach in baseball and soccer. Several members of the Kent Little League Minors AAA Marlins wore their jerseys to the service in honor of their coach. The Kent Little League Web site announced the death of Hauer, described as “well known and liked in the community.”
