Fallen firefighter Adam Finseth honored for his loving, selfless life

Feb. 27—ROCHESTER — Adam Finseth always had a heart for community.

He would gather friends to enjoy the outdoors and hear about their lives. He would create a safe environment as a Rochester lifeguard. He would

serve in the U.S. Army

on two tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He would care for community members in Hastings, Savage and Burnsville as a firefighter and paramedic.

"In Adam's firefighter role in the Burnsville Fire Department he was able to pull together all of his gifts ... into the service of his community," said Drew Caron, a longtime friend of Finseth, during a vigil to remember and honor Finseth's life on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024.

Burnsville

firefighter-paramedic Finseth, a 2001 John Marshall High School graduate,

and Burnsville Police officers Matthew Ruge and Paul Elmstrand, both 27, were

shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call in Burnsville

on Feb. 18.

Ruge was a 2015 Wabasha-Kellogg High School graduate.

Officer Adam Medlicott was also injured and is recovering. The three first responders are believed to be the first Burnsville public safety personnel to die in the line of duty.

Around 200 people attended the vigil honoring and remembering Finseth's life at the Rochester Assembly Church on Tuesday. With moments of silence and reflection throughout the vigil, first responders and local officials highlighted the risks first responders carry daily. Groups of first responders also gathered to share hugs, tears and support.

"They're (first responders) also there to provide an ear and a shoulder to someone who's just lost a loved one, they comfort a small child with a smile, kind word, maybe a stuffed animal. They help a senior citizen to their feet after a fall and they make sure pets are cared for in an emergency," Rochester Fire Department Capt. Brett Knapp said, describing the work of first responders.

In a slideshow of photos from Finseth's childhood to adult life, people saw his love of adventure, spending time with family and friends, enjoying life on the water, hanging out with his dog and serving in several communities. He brightened communities with his "contagious laugh" and smile, as his friends described.

As a hard worker and "absolute servant," Finseth trained on water rescues, helped with the fire department's wellness program and served as a SWAT EMT, Caron said. City of Rochester council member Norman Wahl thanked first responders for having a "golden heart" in serving people with their lives.

"Adam's family and the city of Rochester can be proud that they raised up a young man that was willing to give his entire life in service, whether in the Army, as a firefighter-paramedic or as a part of the SWAT team," Wahl said.

During the domestic violence call on Feb. 18, law enforcement negotiators spoke with

Shannon Cortez Gooden, who later fatally shot the three men,

for an extended period of time. The initial call was in response to an

alleged sexual assault,

according to court documents reported in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Gooden was barricaded inside his home with family, including seven children. He died by suicide from a gunshot wound to the head, according to a news release from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office.

Finseth was helping one of the injured officers when he was shot, according to investigators with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

"I hope that's something everyone here can take away from this: the love Adam had in his heart for anyone around him and being there to help others in need," friend David Chiarini said. "I promise you when the events took place that took Adam's life, there was no hesitation in him doing what he was there to do."

The Finseth family, including Adam's wife Tara, their two children and his parents Brad and Brenda Finseth and sister Amber, were preparing for a memorial in the Twin Cities area. Chiarini said the Finseth family welcomed, loved and treated each of Adam's friends as a family member. He said they are hurting with their family.

"To say that our family is devastated at the loss of our Adam is an understatement. We are broken. Our children will grow up without their 'papa,'" Tara Finseth said in a statement on Sunday, Feb. 25. "Although our forever hero is no longer with us, his soul will live on through me, his children, family, friends, and community. We know he is by our side every day until we meet again in heaven. On behalf of our family, thank you for the overwhelming and heartwarming support during this very difficult time."

Chip Shots raised $775 in a

fundraiser for Finseth's family

on Monday and Bear Paw Coffee in Byron raised $4,665 over the weekend.

While reflecting on a life lost too soon, friend Jon Doring said Finseth was quick to introduce him to friends when Doring's family moved to the John Marshall school area. Finseth continued the support of his friends through phone calls and helping anytime he could such as shingling a roof or moving them into a new house.

Friends and community leaders also saw the mark of sacrificial love in Finseth's life as reflected in the Bible verse John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

"The type of person he was is truly beyond words. He was one of the most selfless people I have ever met," Doring said. "It was really no surprise to any of us that Adam decided to join the military and later chose a career path in public service."

The group of friends traveled to the Boundary Waters and trips with the Finseth family continued into their adult lives. Finseth was an outdoor enthusiast whether boating, hunting or snowboarding. He shared his love of the outdoors with his two children who he recently taught to snowboard.

George Beech, senior chaplain and executive director of the Salt & Light Partners chaplain group with local first responder departments, encouraged people to act as beacons of light and compassion during the heavy darkness of these losses.

"Grant us the grace to find solace in your unwavering love knowing that you are near to the broken-hearted and that you understand our pain," Beech shared in a prayer. "Help us to cling to the hope of your promises, trusting that you will carry the Finseth family and those who were close to Adam through this dark valley."

As red and blue lights illuminated the stage, the Rochester Fire Department Honor Guard shared the mournful toll of death in a bell ceremony. The rings represent the end of a firefighter's duties. A large bell of honor outside the church also rang seven times to honor first responders.

In support of the Finseth family and solidarity with the Burnsville police and fire departments, RFD deputy fire chief Holly Mulholland reflected on the dedication of first responders as they serve and risk their lives.

"Adam and his family made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the community and tonight we honor and thank them for that," Mulholland said. "In the days ahead, we will continue to honor that sacrifice by continuing the community service that Adam paid so dearly for. We will do that by getting on the fire apparatus, ambulance and law enforcement vehicle everytime a call for help comes in. We honor those that have gone before us by serving others the way they would have wanted."

A

joint memorial service for the fallen first responders

will be held at Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. For more information on the service and donation options, visit the city of Burnsville website at

burnsvillemn.gov/2376/Community-Updates.

People can also donate to the

Law Enforcement Labor Services Benevolent Fund.