Obituaries
Retired Mallinckrodt Fire Chief John Sachen Passes Away
Sachen was active nationally as an instructor, becoming instrumental in the education and training of firefighters.
Retired Mallinckrodt Fire Chief John Sachen, 77, will be laid to rest on Thursday, June 27, at 10 a.m.
His services will take place at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, located at 4900 Ringer Rd. in St. Louis. Interment to follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
He died on June 21. He may be known in the Hazelwood area for the aforementioned position, but Sachen served 63 years in fire service and private sector. He was active nationally as an instructor in the education and training of firefighters.
Fire at a Young Age
Fire was in Sachen's hear at a very young age. In the 1940s, as a middle school student in Clayton, Mo., Sachen was assigned an art project in which he had to draw a mechanical object. He chose a firetruck, he told the Southeast Missourian in 2010, and ever since has had a strong devotion to the fire service.
His certified teaching career began in 1956 in the U.S. Air Force in the field of communications and electronics. He became an instructor certified with the University of Missouri-Fire and Rescue Training Institute in 1974.
He said in that interview, he had been actively involved in fire service since he was a sophomore in high school in Clayton.
"I was a reserve firefighter," he told the publication. "You didn't ride firetrucks when you were reserve because you were too young."
To see that full Southeast Missourian 2010 interview, click here.
Many Achievements and InvolvementsSachen served as Hazmat Officer/Fire Instructor for the Delta Missouri Fire Protection District and served on the advisory board for FDIC.
In his career, Sachen was responsible for many facets of the fire industry including structural firefighting, training, hazmat, confined space, and management. His industrial career includes product development and marketing with General Dynamics during three different employment periods.
He also developed numerous courses and procedures in his role at the University of Missouri, including the “Ignitable Liquids and Class B Foam,” "Killer-in-the-Attic (half-story fires)," and “Methamphetamine Awareness and Operations.”
All were released nationally under a federal grant and to Rapid Intervention Teams. In addition he developed and produced the Fire Technology Ltd. video training program "Firefighting: It's A Risky Business".
Sachen was a longtime Fire Department Instructors Conference advisory board member, and contributor to Fire Engineering, according to the publication.
Personal Life
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Sachen is survived by his ex-wife, Barbara Schwepker; his four daughters Caprice (Jim) Lawrence, Johnna Sachen, Bethany Sachen, and Valentine (Tony) Buttice; his six grandchildren Mariah, Violet, Jack Henry, Gabrielle, Tony Jr. and Emme.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The Backstoppers, PO Box 95168, St. Louis, MO 63179.
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