The Ames Fire Department lost not only a fire fighter on March 17, but also an avid bike rider and proud kilt wearer who was described by all who knew him as one of the warmest and selfless people they ever knew.

Ames emergency personnel and other community members joined the friends and family of the recently deceased firefighter, Steve Buser, in honoring his life. 

Firefighters, police officers and others stood with hands to their head, saluting as Buser’s loved ones made their way to the 3 p.m. service at the Ames City Hall’s auditorium. The sound of a bagpipe filled the space.

This and a kilt belonging to Buser displayed on the stage represented Buser’s Irish heritage. 

The stage also displayed his two bikes and T-shirts, including one made for his biking team for the annual RAGBRAI, which he participated in every year. 

Scott Mills, who owns a matching shirt to the one that hung on the stage, spoke of his memories of Buser. He was Buser’s best friend. 

The two biked side by side almost every year. Mills described Buser as the protector, as Buser pointed out any hazards that he saw on the road, making sure all were safe. 

The two, along with their wives, met while geocaching. Mills said he and his wife, Carrie Mills, found their best friends. 

“To you Steve, thank you for being my friend,” Mills said. “I don’t deserve it and I certainly didn’t earn it, but I’ll take it.”

Mills made three promises when on stage: that he wouldn’t swear during his speech, and that he wouldn’t speak of Buser in the past tense.

His final promise was to become a better father, husband and human being in general in honor of the type of man that he remembers Buser to have been.

All of those who spoke, including the minister and fellow Ames firefighter, Lt. Doug Neys, brought up many of Buser’s shameless quirks. 

He liked to cook fish, stinking up the entire kitchen in the fire station. Neys said the only time they could keep him from producing this smelly food was when another firefighter cooked fajitas. 

They tried to make fajitas as often as they can, Neys said. 

Neys described the bond between those working at the same fire station on the same shift. 

“We work together, sweat together,” Neys said. “We eat together. We laugh together. We bleed together. We go through pain together. We beat up our bodies and see images that normal people don’t see and we do that together.”

Ames Fire Chief Shawn Bayouth brought up some statistics from the last 15 years of Buser’s 17 years of service. 

During that time, Buser answered well over 3,000 incidents and spent more than 20,000 hours on duty at the fire stations. During an averaged month, Buser responded to more than 270 emergency calls.

“The next time you teach an EMS class or cook fish, obviously stinky fish, or fiddle around with engines around the fire house or hop on your fat-tire bike for a ride, no matter how cold the weather, or share that special moment with your daughter, think about Steve and how he loved those moments,” Bayouth said. 

After a flag and Buser’s helmet were presented to his wife and daughter, Angie and Braxton Buser, the sound of dispatch sounded from overhead. This was Buser’s final call, which led to sobs throughout the auditorium. 

“Thank you for your service, firefighter Buser,” the dispatcher concluded.