HELTONVILLE — The Heltonville community and the broader Indiana firefighting fraternity are mourning the loss of Steven “Steve” Roscoe Nolan, 77, who passed away on June 24, 2026, at Bloomington Hospital surrounded by his family.
A dedicated family man, a man of profound faith, and a pillar of local public safety, Nolan leaves behind a towering legacy; most notably through his decades of leadership at the Pleasant Run Volunteer Fire Department (PRFD) and his extensive service to the Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association (IVFA).
Born on May 31, 1949, to Kenneth and Helena Nolan, Steve was a 1969 graduate of Mitchell High School and attended Indiana State University. He married his beloved wife, Sharon Lynn Anderson, on September 4, 1970. Together, they built a vibrant family that grew to include three children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Professionally, Nolan committed over 30 years to General Motors as a skilled tool and die maker, additionally serving his coworkers as a Union Benefits Representative and proud member of the UAW Local 440. Yet, alongside his full-time career and devotion to his family, Nolan carved out a second, enduring identity: that of a tireless volunteer firefighter.
From Volunteer to Chief: Building PRFD
Nolan’s journey with the Pleasant Run Volunteer Fire Department began shortly after he moved to Heltonville in 1984. He initially befriended and worked alongside the department’s chief at the time. By 1986, facing a critical shortage of volunteers, the chief asked Nolan to join the ranks. At 36 years old, Nolan answered the call.
His leadership qualities were put to the test almost immediately. Not long after he joined, the acting chief suffered a heart attack, and Nolan was asked to step into the role. He assumed the mantle of Fire Chief in late 1986, serving in that capacity until 1995. Proving that his dedication was to the mission rather than the title, Nolan transitioned to Deputy Chief from 1995 to 2000, before taking the reins as Chief once more from 2000 until 2015.
Reflecting on his early days in an interview last year, Nolan recalled how radically the fire service transformed during his tenure. He said EMS was not in the plan; it was battling blazes, and firefighters responded to 25 to 30 calls. Now, in emergency response, the department responds to more than 300 calls a year.
Nolan didn’t just build the department’s response capabilities; he literally built its foundation. He fondly recalled the grueling sweat equity required to construct the current fire station located at 138 Jefferson Street.
Tales from the Fire Line
Over his nearly three decades of service, Nolan accumulated an arsenal of unforgettable stories. Among his favorites was a mutual aid deployment to a wildland fire in Kentucky. While walking the active fire line in the dark, a fellow firefighter warned him, “Whatever you do, don’t shine your lights to the left.” Nolan couldn’t resist a peek; just feet away, through the smoke sat a wild bear.
Current members of the department emphasize that the tools, stations, and safety protocols modern volunteers enjoy are the direct result of the groundwork laid by pioneers like Nolan. “Steve left a long-time legacy at PRFD as well as many other agencies,” a department representative shared. “Without what the people before us built, we would not have everything we have today.”
Beyond the firehouse, Nolan was an avid outdoorsman who found joy in hunting, fishing, boating, and camping. Above all, he was his grandchildren’s biggest fan, rarely missing their activities and events. He was a devout member of the Avoca Baptist Church and a frequent attendee of the Heltonville Christian Church.
Nolan is survived by his wife, Sharon; his children, Shane (Courtney) Nolan, Shannon Duckworth, and Susan Day; his grandchildren, Matthew, Cade, Erin, Natalie, Asa, and Alexandria; and his great-grandchildren, Lyrick, Liam, and Hadley. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral Arrangements
Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Day & Carter Mortuary, with Jon Lineback officiating. The service will feature a formal IVFA Memorial Service to honor his contributions to the state’s fire service. Burial will follow at Cresthaven Cemetery in Bedford.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of service on Tuesday at the mortuary. Instead of flowers, the Nolan family requests that memorial donations in Steve’s memory be directed to the Heltonville Christian Church or the Pleasant Run Volunteer Fire Department.
As his brothers and sisters in the fire service prepare to sound his final alarm, the sentiment across the community remains unanimous:
Rest easy now, brother. We’ve got it from here.
