Saying goodbye to Chief John Allison

Members of the Custer Fire Department salute their chief’s coffin.

The Custer Fire Department medical truck leads a processional from Ludington to Custer. The truck was carrying Allison’s coffin home to his fire station.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. 

White puffy clouds floated in the bright, beautiful fall sky Saturday afternoon. It was a fitting day to pay tribute to a great man. Dozens of emergency services personnel, along with community members, neighbors, friends and family paid tribute to the life of Custer Fire Chief John E. Allison.

Hamlin Twp. Fire Lt. Matt Bryant, along with other firefighters, salute Allison.

John, 51, died Monday, Oct. 14, after having complications from a presumed heart arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) on the evening of October 8th.

All 11 Mason County fire departments were represented along with departments from Lake, Oceana and Manistee counties. Delegations were also sent from Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Scottville Police Department, Michigan State Police, Life EMS ambulance, American Red Cross, Mason-Oceana 911 and Mason County Emergency Management.

The bright fall sky and clouds over Cornerstone Baptist Church were fitting for the day.

John Allison earned his living as a farmer, loved his family, loved his God and served his community. He grew up and lived all his life in south Custer Township. He was a member of United Methodist Church of Scottville. He was a husband and a father. He was a fireman. Personally, I believe he was one of the kindest people I have ever met. He always took the time to say hello to me and have a conversation, no matter the circumstances or the place. And, he always had a smile on his face.

Ludington and Pere Marquette Township fire departments paid tribute with their ladder trucks.

God bless you, John.