Nathaniel Honaker took one last ride aboard a fire truck Sunday.

A volunteer firefighter with two area fire departments who died of an apparent heart attack last month, Honaker was honored by family, friends and co-workers for his public service during a memorial celebrating his life.

Testimonies to his friendship and hard work with the Wakarusa Township and De Soto fire departments were plentiful during the event at Maceli’s, a catering service at 1031 N.H. About 60 people attended.

The memorial concluded with a Wakarusa fire truck draped in black tapestries transporting an urn of the 22-year-old’s cremated remains to South Park, a block away. The urn rode in a hose well on the front bumper of the truck. Also at the front of the truck were a pair of firefighter’s boots and a helmet. Walking behind the truck were 10 firefighters, followed by two smaller fire vehicles.

Wakarusa Fire Chief Chris Moore then presented the urn to Honaker’s mother, Sara “Bobbie” Hardeman.

Dozens of red, white and blue balloons carrying cards with the scribbled personal thoughts of those who knew Honaker were released into the air.

“This is just overwhelming,” Hardeman said of the memorial event. “The outpouring of love is just wonderful.”

Honaker’s fiancee, Melissa Schurman, of De Soto, was equally touched.

“He would be very much honored by this,” said Schurman, who is five months pregnant with Honaker’s child. “He’d be very proud and thankful that everybody is remembering him.”

Cindy Soper holds the fire helmet of Nathaniel Honaker, a close family friend and firefighter who died last month of an apparent heart attack at age 22. Soper was among friends and family attending a celebration of life ceremony for Honaker on Sunday in downtown Lawrence. Honaker's aunt, Robin Clayton, is at right.

Honaker died June 28, while working at another job in a Kansas City, Mo., pizza restaurant. That he died so young despite having passed rigorous physical tests to become a firefighter was a shock to those who knew him.

“He was a very caring person who left his family way too soon,” said Wakarusa firefighter Michael Grob, who worked closely with Honaker.

“He was willing to do whatever it took,” Moore said. “We’re going to miss him. He will be in our hearts forever.”

Grob, Moore and others spoke about Honaker at Maceli’s, where several tables displayed pictures of Honaker as he was growing up. On one table was his Lawrence High School football jersey and other mementos of his playing days. Honaker also served as an umpire for Douglas County Amateur Baseball Assn.

6News video: Wakarusa volunteer firefighter to receive memorial this weekend (7-16-04)

Honaker became a firefighter after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

“He said, ‘Mom, I need to do something different,” Hardeman said.

Sara Bobbie Hardeman, mother of firefighter Nathaniel Honaker, speaks during a ceremony honoring his life. On Sunday, Hardeman said Honaker's organ donations had already helped many people.

As a firefighter Honaker was trained to save lives, but he also saved lives after his death, his mother noted.

Honaker carried a card with him stating that he wanted to donate his body parts to those who needed them. Hardeman said medical officials told her that her son’s cornea, retina, bone marrow, skin and other body parts have benefited as many as 50 people.

“We’re sad that he’s gone, but we felt like we had to do something like this to celebrate what he did,” Hardeman said.

Friends and family walk down New Hampshire Street en route to South Park to release balloons to honor Nathaniel Honaker. Honaker, a volunteer firefighter, died last month at age 22.

Michelle Mauler, Lenexa, sketches a portrait of Nathaniel Honaker during a memorial service. The Sunday afternoon event was at Maceli's, 1031 N.H., and followed by a ballon release at South Park.