LCC K-9 Ministry Teams Bring Comfort to the Family and Friends of a Firefighter Who Died In a Tragic Accident

On October 1, 2020, the LCC K-9 Comfort dogs were invited by the South Holland, Illinois Fire Department to be with teammates of Dylan Cunningham, age 29, at Fire Station 43 in South Holland. The South Holland firefighter and Illinois Army National Guardsman died Wednesday night following an underwater dive incident at Haigh Quarry Lake in Kankakee.
 
Rich Martin, Director of K-9 Deployment with Ruthie Comfort Dog and Nikki Deacon, Director of Ministry, with Emma Comfort Dog were with Dylan’s fellow firefighters from all around the Chicago area stations.

Dylan began working for South Holland Fire Department part time in 2011 and was sworn in full time in 2018. During that time, he also joined the Illinois Army National Guard in 2012. By the end of his service in 2020, he had earned the rank of Sergeant and had served in both a Chemical Operations and Infantry unit. Simultaneously, he studied fire science at Prairie State College. In October 2018, he received a Gold Seal from the South Cook County EMS medical director for his work in saving a patient on an EMS call.
 
Dylan was a South Holland Firefighter, a United States National Guard Member, a father to be, a Friend and Hero to many. He was loved and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
 
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13)

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On Tuesday, October 6, the LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs were invited to attend Dylan’s visitation held at Smits Funeral Home in Dyer, Indiana:
 
The following K-9 Ministry teams were present:
 
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Angel (St. John's - La Grange, Illinois)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Barnabas & Isaiah (Trinity - Hobart, Indiana)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Caleb (Immanuel - Valparaiso, Indiana)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs Emma & Ruthie (LCC Staff)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Myra (St. Andrews - Park Ridge, Illinois)
LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Tobias (Lord of Glory - Grayslake, Illinois)

Please join LCC in praying for his family, the South Holland Fire Station, and the community in which Dylan selflessly served.

DONATE — LCC K-9 COMFORT DOG MINISTRY