| Name | Frank Schnurstein |
| Agency | Forest Park Fire Department |
| Rank | Captain |
| Type of Firefighter | [Unknown] |
| Age Range | 41 to 45 |
| Sex | Male |
| Date of Birth | 0/0/0 |
| Date of Death | 3/28/1969 |
| Cause of Death | Stress/Overexertion , Fall |
| Nature of Death | Trauma , Heart attack |
| Attribute of Death | [not applicable] |
| Type of Duty | Ladder operations , Search and rescue operations |
| Incident Name | N/A |
| Incident City | Forest Park |
| Incident State | IL |
| Incident Date | 3/29/1969 |
| Incident Location | Residential , Store/Office |
| Incident Attribute | Fires |
On March 28, 1969, Captain Frank Schnurstein of the Forest Park Fire Department suffered a fatal heart attack in the line of duty.
Schnurstein was on the first fire truck that responded to a fire in a three-story building containing a store on the first floor and nineteen apartments on the second and third floors. Firefighters placed ladders to reach residents trapped on the upper floors, and Schnurstein climbed to the top of the building. He was stricken while at the top of the ladder, and fell backward, landing on the sidewalk three stories below.
Funeral services for Schnurstein were held at St. Bernadine Church on March 31, and he was interred at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. He was survived by his widow, two children, and nine siblings.
Citations:
“Suburb Fire Captain Dies in Rescue Effort,” Chicago Tribune, March 29, 1969.