Procession honors fallen assistant fire chief from Columbia to Union

UNION, Mo. – Fallen Assistant Fire Chief Matt Tobben was honored during a procession Tuesday that departed in Columbia and rolled through Warrenton on the way to the final stop in his hometown of Union.

“People want to pay tribute to a hero—and that’s what that was,” Boone County Asst. Chief Gale Blomenkamp said. “He not only helped people here in Union for 19 years, people across the state of Missouri for 12 years, but (also) people across the country.”

Tobben lost his life during a water rescue Monday in Columbia when he and three other occupants were thrown from the boat. He had just joined the Boone County Fire Protection District two months ago, teaching rescue boat operations. He was 42 years old.

“They do this for a reason; they do it to help their fellow mankind. That’s something we preach at the fire district,” Blomenkamp said. “If there was somebody we were going to put on a boat to do that rescue yesterday morning, it was him…when I say the best of the best, he was one of those.”

Despite Tuesday’s rainfall, hundreds lined the streets with flags in their hands.

“It’s really sad to see how he gave his life doing what he thought was the best—trying to make a difference,” Nicholas Haberger, procession attendee, said. “It’s a small town. You kind of know everyone; it’s a sad thing to see.”

Tobben leaves behind his wife and two young sons, Blomenkamp said.

“(They) are going to miss them more than anyone else will. The tribute that’s paid to him is well deserved,” he said.

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