Bright-red ribbons decorate trees and signposts in northwest suburban Niles in anticipation of a funeral procession and service Tuesday to honor Chicago Fire Department Capt. David Meyer, who died last week after battling a suspicious garage fire in the Austin neighborhood.
Funeral services are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at St. John Brebeuf Church, 8305 N. Harlem Ave. in Niles, after a roughly 15-minute procession.
Meyer, 54, served as a captain of Truck 29 and spent most of his roughly three-decade career on the West Side.
He is survived by his wife, four children and his parents, according to his obituary, which noted that “his devotion to his family was known to all who met him.”
Around 4 a.m. Wednesday, Meyer responded to a garage fire in the 5500 block of West Crystal Street. The fire was extinguished, but Meyer was critically injured when the roof of the garage collapsed on top of him as he was working.
He was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital.
Charles Green, 44, of the Austin neighborhood faces first-degree murder and aggravated arson charges in connection with the fire and Meyer’s death. On Saturday, Green was ordered detained by a judge during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, where firefighters and paramedics filled the courtroom to support their fallen colleague.
Meyer was married to his wife, Kristen, for more than 30 years. He met her at age 16, when they attended Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago; the couple had a son and three daughters.
“They spent many years traveling and visiting friends around the country,” the obituary said. “Dave was not only a great husband and father, but he was a friend that you could depend on at any time.”
A visitation for Meyer took place Monday at Malec & Sons Funeral Home in Chicago. His interment will be private, according to the obituary.
eleventis@chicagotribune.com