Hundreds attend Matthew Tobben’s visitation in Union
UNION, Mo. (KMIZ)
At least 1,000 people are expected to attend the visitation of late Boone County Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Matthew Tobben on Friday afternoon in Union, Missouri.
The 42-year-old died on Monday morning while rescuing two people from floodwaters in north Columbia. At the time, he was assisting the Columbia Fire Department with the rescue, when the Boone County water rescue boat was flooded with water. The city says the boat lost power and overturned, throwing Tobben, Columbia firefighter Derek Abbott, Paige Pace and Charlie Resonno off of it.
A drowning report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol says Abbott was not injured, while Pace and Resonno had minor injuries.
A spokesperson that was helping coordinate Friday's visitation said at least 1,000 people were expected to show up to give their condolences. ABC 17 News saw a steady amount of people coming in-and-out of Oltmann Funeral Home during the first hour of the visitation.
Tobben's visitation will be held from 3-8 p.m. and funeral services are set for 11 a.m.-noon Saturday in Union at East Central College. The burial will be private.
Several fire departments attended including the Boone County Fire Protection District, Fulton Fire Department, Kirkwood Fire Department, Union Fire Department, Eureka Fire Department, St. Louis Metro Search and Rescue and the Aurora Fire Department.
On Monday, Boone County Fire Assistant Chief Gale Blomenkamp said Tobben started his position as Director of Training with the Boone County Fire Protection District on May 1. Previously, he spent 19 years with the Union Fire Department. He also served 12 years with Missouri Task Force One.
Blomenkamp said no one was more qualified for water rescues than Tobben.
"He taught swift water boat operations," Blomenkamp said. "He's the guy that taught people how to do what he was doing this morning, and so there wouldn't be anybody more credentialed, anyone more responsible to do the work that was being done this morning."
Blomenkamp spoke highly of Tobben's character.
"He'd do anything for you," Blomenkamp said. "All you had to do was ask and he was always willing to help. He never turned down the opportunity to run that call, to make that rescue, to be involved."
Tobben's body was taken to his hometown of Union during a procession on Tuesday. Blomenkamp said there was overwhelming support from residents all the way to Union.
"As we're going down I-70, every overpass, literally every overpass that we went by had emergency services and citizens standing there, saluting Chief Tobben on the way home to Union, Missouri," Blomenkamp said on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, The United States Exercise Tiger Foundation placed two wreaths at the Boone County Fire Protection District headquarters to honor Tobben.
He leaves behind his wife Jacquelynn and his two sons, Jack and Henry.
Gov. Mike Parson ordered all flags to be lowered at half-staff for Saturday at all government buildings in Boone County, the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri in Kingdom City and firehouses statewide, according to a Friday press release.
“Assistant Chief Matt Tobben’s life was defined by courageous, selfless public service,” Parson said in the release. “Within five days, Mr. Tobben took part in two daring rescues of flooding victims in dangerous swift water conditions, and that's just one example of his nearly 20 years of commitment to the wellbeing of his fellow citizens. Teresa and I extend our condolences to Mr. Tobben's loved ones as we keep them all in our prayers."
