United till the very end: South Dakota EMS worker and wife, both battling cancer, die on same day
SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA: A South Dakota EMS worker and his wife, who were both battling cancer, died on the same day, according to Yankton County EMS. The organization announced on Facebook that 58-year-old EMS Administrator Steve Hawkins died on December 23 following a five-year battle with cancer. His wife, Wendy, 52, also died from cancer the same day after a brief struggle.
Wendy Hawkins was admitted to the hospital some weeks ago, according to Troy Cowman, the deputy administrator for the EMS, whereas Steve Hawkins was admitted more recently. According to Cowman, both died in the Yankton hospital.
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“It’s just a shock to the system,” Cowman said of the two deaths. “All of here (EMS) are working through it.” Hawkins' three children are one of the biggest concerns for EMS personnel at this time as they deal with the loss, according to Cowman. The three children Brad, Mandi, and Trent, who are all in their 20s, can expect support from the county EMS, which will also help with funeral fees and their parents' medical expenditures, as per Fox 13 News. The Hawkins family now has a GoFundMe account which has raised $8,760 of $10,000 goal when this article was published. A memorial service will take place in the future, close to spring, but no exact date has been chosen, according to Yankton County EMS.
Yankton County EMS reported that Hawkins had been serving as the administrator since 2009. Before moving to Yankton, he worked as a paramedic in Cody, Wyoming, and Yellowstone National Park. “Steve was the kind of leader that ran the business the way it should be run,” Cowman said.
According to Cowman, Hawkins made sure that business operations were done according to the policies of the organization. As per Cowman, Hawkins also watched out for the workers. “He made sure the needs of employees were taken care of,” Cowman said. Hawkins was a personable individual who led with an open door policy. According to Cowman, EMS personnel would drop by the workplace to chat about either work-related or other subjects with him frequently. Wendy Hawkins, according to Cowman, was a stay-at-home mother who put her family first. She is referred to as a loving wife and mother in the Facebook post.