Niles firefighters crossed the ladders of two trucks over East Main Street and draped an American flag from the top of the ladders to honor fireman Scott Crouch, who died last week. Leader photo/CRAIG HAUPERT

David “Scott” Crouch, who passed away last week at the age of 40, was honored Monday by the Niles City Fire Department.

Crouch had been a fulltime Niles firefighter since 1994.

Niles firefighters crossed the ladders of two trucks over East Main Street and draped an American flag from the top of the ladders. The funeral procession, which included a fire truck, went underneath the ladders before proceeding into Silverbrook Cemetery.

“He will be missed,” said Niles Fire Lt. Scott Rieth, who was Crouch’s shift commander for many years.

Crouch served as a volunteer firefighter in Niles for around two years before being hired as a fulltime firefighter in 1994. From there, he moved up to the driver’s position and helped establish the department’s public education program — including Flash the Firetruck, a miniature truck the department brings to area schools for purposes of teaching fire safety.

“He always had ideas,” Rieth said.

Crouch ran a fishing charter service, taking Rieth and his two young sons on a trip. Rieth said his 7-year-old son caught his first fish, while his 10 year old hooked the biggest fish.

“They were actually looking forward to going fishing with him this summer, too,” Rieth said.

Crouch was active in the Niles community, spearheading the effort to create the sand volleyball courts at Niles Riverfront Park, while restoring the popular dragon boats used during Niles Riverfest.

He was in the process of securing funding for a fountain structure for the Riverfront Park area.

“He was a driven guy,” Rieth said. “He would give 110 percent to something that he was very enthusiastic about. Anything to do with the city he was more than willing to step up and do his part.”

Crouch passed away at his home in Niles March 18, unexpectedly, but of natural causes.