Frankfort Fire District Trustee, Former Chief Dies

FRANKFORT, IL — Former Frankfort Fire Chief and current Trustee Larry Nice Sr. died on Wednesday, the fire protection district shared on its Facebook.

Nice, age 81, died Wednesday at Silver Cross Hospital. According to his obituary, he is survived by his loving family, wife, Joanne Nice (Bedford), children, Larry (Laura) Nice Jr, Janet Elitzer, grandchildren, Brandon (Kate) Nice, Brittany (fiancé Mike Rickey) Nice, siblings, Roland Nice, Ruthellen Brown and sister in-law Doris Nice.

The fire district said Nice first joined in September 1976, when the department was run by volunteers. He held various ranks through the department, and was named fire chief in 1985. He served as chief until 1987, and would be the last "volunteer" fire chief that Frankfort had.

Nice was appointed as a trustee for the fire district in 1999. He served until 2013, and then was elected again in 2015. He served in the position until his death, the district said.

"Trustee Nice was a member of the District as it experienced tremendous growth and change," Fire Chief Sean Fierce said on Facebook. "He was witness to the Fire District Headquarters moving from Kansas Street to its present location on Nebraska Street. He was a strong supporter of the District hiring full-time firefighters. He was involved with the acquisition and opening of the District’s third, fourth, and fifth stations."

According to his obituary, family will receive friends at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 65 Old Frankfort Way, Frankfort, on Dec. 19 from 3 to 8 p.m. and again on Dec. 20 from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to the Frankfort Fire Department or to the charity of your choice.