HOMETOWN HEROES: Honoring James “Captain Jim” Feldhusen
Published: 09-26-2024 12:03 PM |
Shortly before his passing, James “Captain Jim” Feldhusen told New Ipswich Fire Chief Ben Hatcher that he had no regrets – that if he had to live his life over, he wouldn’t change a thing.
Feldhusen died on Aug. 23 from esophageal cancer, which his doctors had said is likely linked to his career of approximately 40 years as a volunteer firefighter. For his long service to the community, including as a firefighter on both the New Ipswich and Greenville crews, Feldhusen is the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript Hometown Hero for September, the first to be honored posthumously.
Despite his condition, to the last, Feldhusen exemplified one of his favorite quotes, read at his memorial service – “I have no ambition in this world, but one, to be be a fireman. The position may, in the eyes of some, appear to be a lowly one. But we who know the work which a fireman has to do believe his is a noble calling.”
Feldhusen began his career in volunteer firefighting at 18, as soon as he was able to join the service,. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who was a fire chief, and continued to serve in that capacity as long as he was able.
Feldhusen wasn’t just a member of the New Ipswich and Greenville fire departments. He played a very important role every holiday season, donning the red suit and firefighter helmet as “Firefighter Santa” in Greenville, and helping to start the New Ipswich department’s “Pictures with Santa” annual fundraiser.
Despite only having finished chemotherapy treatments last December, Feldhusen still made the rounds as Firefighter Santa on Greenville’s fire truck, waving to children along with his helper, “Buddy the Elf,” played by Charlie Jackman.
“It was something he loved to do for the town, and for the kids,” said Greenville Fire Chief Ben Buttrick. “He loved getting on top of the fire truck and getting paraded around town, and making everyone smile and laugh. He did it for the all the right reasons – he wasn’t there for him, but for everyone else.”
Hatcher said Feldhusen was a mentor to him, and many others within the departments. In addition to his dedication to the fire service, Feldhusen was also active in civic life, having been heavily involved in coaching youth sports in the area, and having served as New Ipswich’s building inspector.
Article continues after...
Yesterday's Most Read Articles
“For more than half of my career in the fire service, I served under Captain Jim,” Hatcher said at a memorial for Feldhusen. “Not all of us here today got to call him ‘Captain Jim.’ Some of us called him coach, teacher, but all of us got to call him a great friend. For me, personally and for many members of the New Ipswich Fire Department, we got to think of him as all four.”
Buttrick also said Feldhusen was always willing to help and to share his knowledge.
“He was always eager to talk people up,” Buttrick said. “And to help. It didn’t matter that I was on Greenville and he was on New Ipswich, he would pull ou aside to tell you, ‘You’re doing a great job.’ Or, to give you constructive criticism – he had a way of saying things, that you didn’t even know you were getting it.”
Buttrick said Feldhusen was always energetic and happy-go-lucky, and was always willing to lend a hand.
“If you had another 10 or 20 of him on your department, whether volunteer or full-time, you would have the best department you could ask for. There was no job that was too little or too big. He would figure out how to get it done,” Buttrick said. “He was never too good to go do something. He didn’t have an ego, he was just there to help. Wouldn’t matter what was asked, he would do it with pride and respect, and out of the self-gratitude to say ‘I was there, I helped and everyone went home safe.’”
Each month, the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript will recognize one of our region’s many Hometown Heroes. Nominate a Hometown Hero at tinyurl.com/3ctykcnv.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaarIMLT.