Philip G. Aufman

Philip George Aufman blessed our world when he was born to Andrew Aufman and June (Emerson) Aufman on November 19, 1951. He was the second born child and only son of very proud parents who had met in the Philippines while honorably serving their country in the military. Phil joined his sister Teresa (Sartain) who was 3 years older and ready to be the big sister, finally! Out of high school Phil became an apprentice in sheet metal and joined The Sheet Metal Workers Union in which he was happy serving for 10 years. He gained so much experience in all types of construction builds, which he continued to build and tinker his entire life. There was nothing he couldn't do it seemed! He was able to overcome a fear of heights by working on the Sears Tower building in the early 1970's, putting in the HVAC runs and returns all the way up to the highest, unfinished floors.
While working as a sheet metal apprentice, he decided to join the Volunteer Firefighters of River Grove IL. He was ready to start his true calling in life: helping and serving others. Phil learned old school firefighting (no air packs, hose in hand, no nomex hood) and served for 10 years as a volunteer. Phil had married his first wife right out of high school, and they had two beautiful children, William and Kathy. Phil was ready to firefight full-time and jumped at the opportunity to join the Schaumburg Fire Department in 1980, becoming part of the "Dirty Thirty" - 30 young men who all came on the job at the same time and formed one of the longest, strongest bonds of his life. The Brotherhood of Firefighters. Phil was a truckman to start, which he thoroughly enjoyed, but he loved the engine most. Phil loved the attack; he hunted fire and was never nervous or fearful. He would stay calm when most would be too scared to move, and he always provided that quiet, calm demeanor to any situation; especially to his brothers working a job. Phil decided to take the LT's test and was ready to lead. He loved taking care of his guys and training others so they were as safe and knowledgeable as one could be as a new firefighter. There are situations and features in structures that can hang up someone wearing equipment, such as railings and fixed items and that did happen, but he was always the calm voice explaining how they could get out. He never lost air and had plenty left after the department issued airpacks. Phil was very proud of his candidates but never jealous as they moved through the ranks. He knew where his heart was, and his place was on the engine as a LT where he could ALWAYS watch over his guys. He was always happy there. It was there where he met the Love of his Life, Amy, who was a dispatcher for the Schaumburg Police & Fire. They bonded over the work that they both understood; the stresses and heartbreaks of the calls you keep inside to protect others, along with the victories great and small. They both had painful divorces, but Phil and Amy (Zumbrock) were married October 7, 1999 and Phil became stepfather to two beautiful little girls, Jessica & Jacqueline. Shortly after they moved to Davis, then rural Lena, where they purchased a portion of the Alfred Schumacher Jr farm. They started a small-scale layer poultry, fruit & vegetable operation, Sunset Acres Farm. They sold market produce at the Lena Farmers Market for several years.
Phil served the Schaumburg citizens for 40 years, and was actually "forced" to retire because he aged out. At 70 Phil wanted to try for the Illinois record for longest serving firefighter, but alas it was his time to move on. He was ready, but the hardest thing he ever did was to close the door on firefighting and the tight bond of shift work with his brothers. And he never let them know how devastated he was at leaving the firehouse-and them-that last day. His full time job now was as a wonderful, caring, devoted and dutiful husband to Amy, which he was to the last day. Phil passed quietly and peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of November 23, 2024. Phil's wife Amy and devoted stepdaughter Jackie fought to resuscitate him until after Ofc Sierra of the Lena Police Dept arrived and took over and the brave volunteer firefighters of Freeport Rural Fire Protection arrived, who worked and did everything they possibly could, but were unfortunately unable to turn him back from his Lord and Savior's embrace.
Phil was preceded in death by his parents Andrew & June (Emerson), and brother-in-law Brian Sartain. He is survived by his big sister Teresa Sartain, niece Jennifer (Eli) Sanchez of New Mexico, his devoted wife Amy (Zumbrock) of Lena, his stepdaughters Jacqueline Jelen of Lena and Jessica (Adam) Behrman of Denver Colorado, granddaughters Jojo & Julia Behrman, his father & mother-in-law Lawrence & Nancy Zumbrock of Des Plaines, sister-in-law Julie (Steve) Unruh of Carpentersville, brothers-in-law Steve (Mary) Zumbrock of Wheaton and Ken (Chris) Zumbrock of Schaumburg, many nieces and nephews, and his eldest children William & Kathy who, although there was distance, Phil always loved and cherished.
Cremation rites have been accorded and condolences may be sent to the family at www.leamonthfh.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to T2T.org aka The Tunnel to Towers Foundation that cares for the families of our bravest fallen EMS.
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