Obituary: Clinton Maehl, former Shoreline Fire Chief

Clinton Maehl, former
Shoreline Fire Chief
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

Clinton Maehl had deep roots in Shoreline and the Shoreline Fire Department

Clinton and Gertrude (Mofle) Maehl moved to Seattle from Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1942, joining his parents and sisters. They bought property in Shoreline and he began building their home, "board by board, as money permitted."

In 1943, Clinton was drafted into the Army Signal Corps and shipped into WWII in Europe, including the battle for Omaha Beach. With the war over, he returned home in 1945 to his wife and daughter Jill. Two more children were born to them - Anita and Douglas.

A couple of months after returning, the Chief of the Seattle Fire District #5 invited Clinton to become a volunteer firefighter. In the summer of 1947, he joined the North City Volunteer Firefighters, a group still in its infancy, and was quickly promoted to Captain and Training Officer. In 1958 he was invited to become a member of the Fire Service Training for Washington State. In 1950, at the age of 28, he was promoted to Fire Chief of King County Fire District #4 (now known as Shoreline Fire) and began building a network of firefighters and paramedics that today we know to be a first class organization.

In 1962 he became a charter member of the Shoreline Rotary Club and in July of 1963 was installed as the club's second president. This involvement greatly enriched his life, and Rotary's dedication to the eradication of polio was a passion for him. 

Clinton is survived by his beloved wife Gertrude C. Maehl, his daughters, Jill M. Hanson (James) of Salem OR and Anita L. Belceto (John) of Fall City WA and his son Douglas R. Maehl (Marilyn) of Columbus OH and his sister Joyce E. Anderson of Seattle, WA, eight grandchildren: Mark, Doug, Greg, Diana, Brian, Trevor, Kevin, Kelly and thirteen great grandchildren.

His service and burial were at Acacia Funeral Home, 14951 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 on Saturday, May 12, 2012.

In his memory, contributions may be made to the Shoreline Fire Department. 17525 Aurora Avenue, Shoreline, WA 98133.