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The St. Florian Scholarship Fund Committee met this year to determine the number of scholarships that we would be able to award based upon the performance of our investments.  It was determined that we would be able to provide six (6) St. Florian Scholarships in the amount of $2000.00 and a special scholarship in the name of KCFD Battalion Chief John Tvedten in the amount of $3000.00.

2026 St. Florian Scholarship Winners:

Sydney Becker
Wyatt Bickham
Haley Klebenstone
Kate Martens
Marqus Smith
Bailey Solomon

2026 Tvedten Scholarship Winner:

Brooks Ragland

February 1, 2026

The 2026 St. Florian Scholarship Application is now CLOSED. Applications were accepted from February 1, 2026, through Wednesday, April 15, 2026.  

Who may apply: The Fund provides educational and charitable assistance to current and retired members of Local No. 42 of the International Association of Fire Fighters and their immediate family. Members of the general public who have announced an interest in or who have been impacted by public safety may also apply. Previous scholarship recipients are welcome to re-apply. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent. 

Brothers and Sisters,

I have some positive news on the NKC Health (formerly NKC Hospital and/or Meritas) and United Healthcare Medicare Advantage coverage issue that was recently brought to our attention (see attached letter below).  After being informed by some members of a communication from NKC stating that they would soon stop accepting the City’s United Healthcare Medicare Advantage insurance plans, I reached out to the Chief Financial Officer of NKC hospital and requested a meeting to discuss the obvious issues and hardship this would place on our retirees who have established relationships with both primary care physicians and specialists under the NKC Health umbrella.  At that meeting, we were able to reach an agreement that NKC Health would continue to receive and treat our members and bill United Healthcare for services rendered through the upcoming 2026 plan year.  There will be some changes to that process, but I believe that the impact to our members will be negligible at worst. 

Coverage under the current plans will continue with no changes at all through March 31, 2026.  However, beginning April 1, 2026, NKC Health may no longer be “in network” under your existing UHC Medicare Advantage plan.  I brought this concern to our Medicare benefits consultant, Benistar, and they assured me that this would not negatively impact plan participants because the 2026 UHC Medicare Advantage plans offered by the City have been customized and should not have any added cost sharing for retirees when utilizing their out-of-network benefits.  In short, the 2026 UHC plan offerings have no real difference in out-of-pocket cost for in-network versus out-of-network medical services.

I would advise that you reach out to Benistar during this open enrollment period and confirm this assessment.  There are also informational meetings offered through the City where you can meet individually with representatives to gather information and make more informed decisions on what healthcare plan is best for you and your family.  I would encourage you to take advantage of those opportunities.  If you are unable to attend one of the in-person meetings, you can reach your Benistar representatives at 844-235-4727.

Thank you again for the opportunity to represent you and your families.  If you have any additional questions or are having trouble reaching the City’s benefits office or Benistar, please contact me at 816-918-9685 or via email at dheizman@iaff42.org.

In solidarity,

Dan Heizman
IAFF Local 42 President
Chairperson – Kansas City Healthcare Trust

The St. Florian Scholarship Fund Committee met this year to determine the number of scholarships that we would be able to award based upon the performance of our investments.  It was determined that we would be able to provide nine (9) St. Florian Scholarships in the amount of $1000.00 and a special scholarship in the name of KCFD Battalion Chief John Tvedten in the amount of $2000.00.

2025 Scholarship Winners

The St. Florian Scholarship Fund Committee would like to acknowledge the support and financial assistance from the Tvedten Family for their efforts in making the 2025 Scholarship Awards to these recipients. 

2025 St. Florian Application is NOW CLOSED

Curtis “Curt” W. Parker, age 56, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, passed away at home on Friday, February 28, 2025.

In September 2022, Curt was diagnosed with cancer as a result of repeated exposures to carcinogens throughout the course of his firefighting career.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Abundant Life, 304 SW Persels Rd., Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64081. Online Condolences can be made here.

Curt was born in Kansas City, Missouri on July 24, 1968. He graduated from Lee's Summit High School in 1986. Following a 1988 conversation with a firefighter, Curt began working as a volunteer firefighter for Prairie Township Fire District in Missouri (now known as Southern Jackson County Fire District). Curt began working as a firefighter/paramedic for the City of Belton, Missouri in 1990, and the City of Grandview, Missouri in 1999, and became a certified Swiftwater Rescue Technician. Curt medically retired from the fire service on March 31, 2023.  He never said he "had" to go to work - Curt always felt he "got" to go to work.

Curt received formal firefighter, EMT, and paramedic licensure training through the University of Missouri Fire Rescue Training Institute and the Medical Center of Independence. 

In addition to his full-time firefighter/paramedic work, Curt owned his own excavating business, digging trenches and laying pipe for new residential and commercial electrical service.

From 2006 - 2019, Curt served as a paramedic and logistics officer with the Missouri State Disaster Medical Team ("DMAT") primarily working out of its Kansas City underground warehouse. The team provided medical assistance at concerts, the Missouri State Fair, air shows and weather-related disasters. On May 22, 2011, the team was deployed to Joplin, Missouri, where they constructed a fully-equipped and working M.A.S.H. style tent hospital after an EF-5 tornado devastated the city and destroyed St. John's Regional Medical Center.

When he wasn't working, Curt enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, camping, riding his Harley, trail riding in the side-by-side, and traveling (especially road trips!). Before Curt's cancer diagnosis, he and Karen planned to take their camper, boat, fishing gear, and the Razor on cross-country trips during their retirement years together.

Curt was preceded in death by his father, Terry Parker. He is survived by his wife, Karen Parker; children, Sydney Parker, Samantha Brack, Johnathan Brack and his wife, Courtney Nickerson; parents, Pat and Mike Jones; a brother, Steven Jones; sisters, Marcine (Jones) Carey, Christine (Jones) Anguzza, and Merrilee Parker; and two grandchildren, Mason Brack and Harlynn (Brack) Chism.

In. lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to: https://www.firefightercancersupport.org/how-you-can-help/donate.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278.

KCFD Firefighter/Paramedic Kyle Brinker, 33, Rescue 9 B-Shift, brother of KCFD Firefighter Scott Brinker, Pumper 9 C-Shift, passed away on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, in the Line of Duty.  Kyle was an 11-year member of the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Department. 

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, from 12:00 PM till 2:00 PM, at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, located at 1600 Rte. 291 Highway, Liberty, MO 64068.  Celebration of Life will follow from 2:00 PM till 4:00 PM. Online Condolences can be made here.

It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing the LODD of Liberty Firefighter Steven Sanneman, age 52, Pumper 3, A-Shift, who has passed away from occupational cancer.  Brother Sanneman was a 20-year member of the Liberty Fire Department. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024, from 6:30 PM till 8:30 PM at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, located at 1600 NE Rte. 291 Highway, Liberty, MO 64068.  Funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 9:00 AM at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church.

The St. Florian Scholarship Fund Committee met this year to determine the number of scholarships that we would be able to award based upon the performance of our investments.  It was determined that we would be able to provide seven (7) St. Florian Scholarships in the amount of $1000.00 and a special scholarship in the name of KCFD Battalion Chief John Tvedten in the amount of $2000.00.

2024 Scholarship Winners

The St. Florian Scholarship Fund Committee would like to acknowledge the support and financial assistance from the Tvedten Family for their efforts in making the 2024 Scholarship Awards to these recipients. 

Funeral Notice: John Parison

KCFD Fire Captain John “JP” Parison, III, 48, father of KCFD Firefighter/EMT, John Parison, IV, passed away on Friday, November 17, 2023, after a short battle with occupational cancer.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 24, 2023, from 9:00 AM till 11:00 AM at the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, located at 8640 Sni-A-Bar Rd., Kansas City, MO. 64129.

Funeral service will follow.  Burial at Park Lawn Cemetery, located at 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, MO 64138.

After the services, we will gather at Gladden Hall on the lower of Local 42’s Union Hall, located at 6320 Manchester Ave., Kansas City, MO.  We invite you to come and celebrate John's life and share stories to honor JP.