SOUTH THOMASTON — Richard M. Liska Sr., 84, died peacefully April 4, 2015, at home.

He was born July 23, 1930, in Stepney, Conn. His brother, Albert A. Liska Jr. died in August 1998. Richie grew up on his grandparents' farm in Newtown, attended first-grade at Sandy Hook Elementary School, later went to Hawley Elementary School and graduated from Hawley High School in 1948. He soon received draft notice for induction into the U .S. Army. After waiting a period of time he was selected as one of eight inductees to the U.S. Marine Corps. After training in Quantico, Va., and Jacksonville, Fla., he was assigned to the U.S. Marine Air Wing in Memphis, Tenn., until his discharge from service in March 1954.

His interest in firefighting began in high school under the tutelage of Vo-Ag teacher Vincent Gaffney, when high school seniors were allowed to leave school during the day in order to help the fire department fight grass fires around town. His passion for firefighting continued and he joined Newtown Hook & Ladder soon after. He held many positions within Hook & Ladder, mainly as engineer and chief engineer. Richie retired in May 1998 after 50 years of service.

He was service manager for Lovell's Farm Equipment in Newtown for many years, and worked at Ruwet-Sibley in New Milford. He eventually retired from Pakulis John Deere Equipment in Brookfield. In 1996 he and his wife moved from Newtown to South Thomaston, where family and friends visited often.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth, with whom he would have celebrated 60 years of marriage on Sept. 3 of this year. He is also survived by his sons, Richard M. Liska Jr. and his wife, Donna, of Newtown, and Jeffrey D. Liska of New Milford, Conn.; three grandsons, Joshua and his wife, Sally, of Sandy Hook, Jakob and his wife, Nicole, of Newtown, and Kurtis Liska of New Milford; his granddaughter, Sarah Locke of Rutland, Vt.; and two great-grandsons, Colton and Ryker Liska of Sandy Hook and Newtown.

A celebration of his life will be held Sunday, April 19, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Alexandria Room in the Edmond Town Hall on Main Street in Newtown, Conn.

In lieu of flowers, Richard requested donations be made to Newtown Hook & Ladder Building Fund, Box 3911, Newtown, CT, 06470.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home.