John “Woody” Underwood has held many titles over his 41 years of being with the Waseca Fire Department: volunteer, commander, chief, lieutenant, and captain. Soon he will be something that is well deserving after a long-respected career: retired.
Underwood was recognized for his years of service with the Fire Department at the June 18 Waseca City Council meeting. He will be retiring at the end of this month.
Underwood started as a firefighter for the city on June 15, 1983 and has held many positions within the department since then.
“Truly the definition of a civil servant,” Waseca Fire Chief Jason Forshee said at the meeting.
Underwood retired from being assistant chief in 2013, and stayed in the department as the full-time shift commander. He then became fire chief for nearly three years in 2018 before Forshee took the reins from him in 2021.
Forshee noted that Underwood has been consistently active and responsive when it comes to calls.
“Most people when they walk into the fire service, they’re excited, they come to a lot of calls, and as the years go on they kind of start to dip off,” said Forshee. “Woody has been consistent in the top two, three, four, or five in participation in coming to the most calls. Our community, both the city and the rural, are very fortunate to have somebody like that.”
Underwood initially never thought he would become a firefighter, as he first worked at Birdseye when he came to Waseca in 1981. He joined the fire department in 1983 after his supervisor at Birdseye told him there were some openings.
Underwood has been committed to being a firefighter ever since and has helped the community of Waseca in many fires, including the roof collapse at Brown printing in the late 1980s.
“Ever since I was a firefighter, I only wanted to do one thing: every time the pager went off, I wanted to give 110% every time,” Underwood said. “Some firefighters might not have been bothered if they missed a call, but I was mad when I missed calls.”
He then went on to thank the city council, city staff, Forshee, and his wife Lori.
“I’d like to thank my wife for putting up with me for 30 plus years in the Fire Department for the midnight and two in the morning calls,” Underwood said.
Forshee and members of the council had a lot of kind words to say about Underwood as he was awarded a certificate for his 41 years of service.
“He’s been a mentor to me being the former chief,” Forshee said. “He helped me understand what to do and different things like that.”
Mayor Randy Zimmerman talked about how when there was a fire at his family farm when he was younger, he remembered seeing Underwood at work and he stuck out to him out of all the guys that were working the fire. He then went on to thank and congratulate Underwood on a great career.
Council member Stacey Schroeder worked with Underwood and had commended his career as well.
“There’s going to be some big shoes to fill,” Schroeder said about Underwood’s retirement. “I’ve had the honor and privilege of working alongside Woody when I was a reserve and there’s no more competent person than Woody, so thank you for all your service.”
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