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Procession 6 p.m. for body of Sterling firefighter

A memorial to Garrett Ramos is located outside Sterling Fire Department

A memorial to Garrett Ramos is located outside Sterling Fire Department. Ramos, 38, a lieutenant with the Sterling Fire Department, died Saturday morning after the floor beneath him collapsed while fighting a fire that broke out Friday shortly before midnight in rural Rock Falls. This is the first time a firefighter with the Sterling Fire Department was killed in the line of duty. (Katrina Milton)

By Troy E. Taylor

STERLING — Residents of Sterling and Rock Falls are asked to attend a procession to honor the sacrifice of a firefigher who died in the line of duty early Saturday morning.

The Sterling Fire Department will escort the body of Lt. Garrett Ramos from CGH Medical Center to McDonald Funeral Home in Rock Falls. It begins at 6 p.m., according to news release from Sterling City Manager Scott Shumard.

Garrett Ramos

Sterling Fire Department Lt. Garrett Ramos, 38, died in the aftermath of a floor collapse while fighting a house fire in rural Rock Falls. (Submitted by City of Sterling)

Here is the procession route:

Leave CGH Medical Center on Second Avenue. Turn west onto Lefevre Road and proceed south onto Locust Street. It will continue south until West Fifth Street and move past the Sterling Fire Department. It will turn south on Avenue G and cross the Ridge into Rock Falls’ 12th Avenue. The procession will then go to the McDonald Funeral Home, 1002 12th Avenue, Rock Falls.

In addition to the procession, Sterling Mayor Skip Lee gave an order that U.S. flags in Sterling be lowered to half staff and remained lowered until dusk of the day of his funeral.

A memorial to Garrett Ramos is located outside Sterling Fire Department

A memorial to Garrett Ramos is located outside Sterling Fire Department. Ramos, 38, a lieutenant with the Sterling Fire Department, died Saturday morning after the floor beneath him collapsed while fighting a fire that broke out Friday shortly before midnight in rural Rock Falls. This is the first time a firefighter with the Sterling Fire Department was killed in the line of duty. (Katrina Milton)


Troy Taylor

Troy E. Taylor

Was named editor for Saukvalley.com and the Gazette and Telegraph in 2021. An Illinois native, he has been a reporter or editor in daily newspapers since 1989.