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RIDGEVILLE CORNERS, Ohio — Robert W. VonDeylen, 53, the former fire chief of the Ridgeville Township Volunteer Fire Department, died of congestive heart failure Thursday at the Toledo Hospital, where he had lung surgery earlier this month.

Mr. VonDeylen, who lived in Ridgeville Corners, retired from the fire department in 2006 after seven years as the fire chief.

A member of the department since 1971, he was also its assistant fire chief from 1992 until 1998.

“He liked people. Every time he went out on a call, he was leaving his family to risk his life,” said Sandy Kurtz, his sister-in-law.

“[And] he was very dedicated. And he had a sense of humor. He just always had a happy grin,” she said.

For the last six years, Mr. VonDeylen was also a purchasing agent for Alex Products Inc., an automotive seating manufacturer, in Ridgeville Corners. Before that, Mr. VonDeylen was a purchasing agent for area plastic companies.

He was also a Little League coach in Ridgeville Corners in the 1990s.

A native of Napoleon, Ohio, Mr. VonDeylen, graduated in 1970 from Archbold (Ohio) High School.

The next year, he joined the fire department, where his father, Walter VonDeylen, was the assistant fire chief at the time.

The younger Mr. VonDeylen later was trained and certified as an emergency medical technician.

Mr. VonDeylen was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Ridgeville Corners, where he was at different times a deacon, usher, and a member of the scholarship fellowship, among other church positions.

“He was a helper. If somebody called and asked for help with anything, he would be there,” his sister, Betty Mohring, said.

In his free time, Mr. VonDeylen enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, cooking outdoors, and target shooting.

He was a Cleveland Indians and Ohio State fan.

Surviving are his wife of 32 years, Lynda; parents, Walter and Lillian; sons, Barry and Kyle; brother, Roy; sisters, Ellen Kay Drewes, Ann Woodyard, and Betty Mohring, and a grandson.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today in Zion Lutheran Church, Ridgeville Corners, where additional viewing will be from 1 to 2 p.m. today.

Arrangements are by the Rodenberger Funeral Home, Napoleon.

The family suggests tributes to the Ridgeville Volunteer Fire Department, the Zion Lutheran Church education fund, the American Cancer Society, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

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