Kevin Peter Ward

Kevin P. Ward, 58, a Lieutenant and Chicago Fire Department member for 27 years died August 28th 2023 in the line of duty as the result of injuries sustained fighting a house fire on August 11th, 2023. He died peacefully with his family around him.

Kevin was born in Oxford, England, the son of John F. Ward and Valerie J. (Carney) Ward. He was preceded in death by his mother and is survived by his father, step-mother Beth Ward, sister Karen (Wren) Aislinn, and nephew and niece Keegan and Piper Aislinn. He married Corrinne Walenda in 2004 and though now divorced, remained close friends.

Kevin grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan earning a Bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan in 1986. After a decade of adventures which included working as an options trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, a ski resort employee and hotel chef in Colorado, and as a commercial fishing deck-hand on a boat out of Alaska he proudly joined the Chicago Fire Department in 1996.

Many of Kevin’s favorite activities, over the years, involved action with an element of risk mitigated by thoughtful attention to technique—sailing, skiing, wind surfing and scuba diving. Firefighting had a similar appeal for him, as well as providing a stable career, comradeship and an opportunity for service to the community. Over the last few years his sporting interest has focused on underwater hockey where rigorous training has allowed him to compete with players much younger than himself. Kevin has designed and blown art glass, in a studio/workshop whose apparatus he constructed himself, with many of his friends enjoying examples of his work that he has gifted to them. He also acquired a broad set of design/engineering skills including machining and welding. As an example, this included rebuilding the engine of a Porsche car that fulfilled a life-long dream.

Kevin planned to retire with his German Shepherd “Skye” in Colorado where he owned a cabin. He would have used his excavator to prepare the foundation for his new workshop. Rising above this idyllic cabin is a rocky outcrop, from the top of which one can look out to Denver and the Great Plains to the east and see peaks of the continental divide to the west.

Funeral Services for Kevin will be held Wednesday, September 13, 2023 with a visitation from 9am until time of service at 11am at the Fourth Presbyterian Church, North Michigan Avenue at Delaware Place, Chicago, Illinois. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ignite the Spirit Fund, 6400 North Northwest Highway, Unit 402, Chicago, Illinois 60631 or at Ignitethespirit.org

Funeral services provided by, Dignity Memorial, Chapel Hill Gardens West Funeral Home.