Photo by Deb Gau Russell fire trucks led a procession from Grace First Parish to the Russell Cemetery on Friday in honor of Roger Hook, who died earlier this week. Hook was Russell’s mayor, as well as a former firefighter with 25 years of service.

RUSSELL — He was a city official, but Roger Hook was also kind, straight-talking and an active member of his community, family and friends said.

“He had a heart of gold,” said Russell City Council member Alan Martin. Martin was one of many community members who attended a walk-through visitation for Hook Friday at Grace First Parish in Russell.

Hook, Russell’s mayor, died on Monday — one day before he would have been up for re-election. He was 61.

At the visitation on Friday, family and Russell community members remembered Hook’s love of the outdoors, dirt track racing, and his long history of service to Russell. Fire trucks parked outside the church were a reminder of his 25 years of service on the Russell Fire Department. After a private memorial service, area firefighters and first responders would lead a procession to the Russell Cemetery.

Over the years Hook not only served as a firefighter, but as a first responder, a city council member, mayor of Russell, a Bandwagon Days board member, and a Grace First church council member.

Martin said he first got to know Hook as a firefighter, back when Martin was serving as Cottonwood Fire Chief. The two departments had a lot of drills together, he said.

While Hook’s service brought him close to the area firefighting community, local residents said his straightforward personality also set him apart.

“He wasn’t afraid to say what was on his mind, but he had a big heart,” said Jenn Burns.

While you could be sure Hook would tell you exactly what he was thinking, in some ways that could be refreshing, Russell firefighter Adam Burns said. “And he definitely wouldn’t be afraid to help you if you needed it.”

Area firefighters had planned to line the road for Hook’s funeral procession on Friday, but a fire near Florence ended up calling several departments away. Even with the unexpected call, members of the Russell Fire Department and First Responders and the Marshall Fire Department were still able to give Hook a firefighter’s sendoff. A Russell fire truck, lights flashing, carried Hook’s urn to the Russell Cemetery after the services.

The question of who will serve as Russell’s next mayor hasn’t been finalized yet. Hook was the only candidate on the ballot, but after the news of his death community members stepped forward with write-in votes.

Adam Burns said it was his friendship with Hook that led him to start a write-in campaign on a day’s notice.

“I would never have ran if it wasn’t for Roger,” he said.

Earlier this week city and Lyon County officials tallied up a total of 135 write-in votes for Russell mayor, with Martin, Burns and Trevor Carlson emerging as the top three candidates. Russell City Clerk Marie Grant said she will be taking the unofficial results to the city council, as well as consulting with the city attorney on how to proceed.