SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Illinois Senate Tuesday held a moment of silence for fallen Christopher firefighter Kody Vanfossen, who died in the line of duty early Sunday morning while fighting a fire at a vacant commercial building in Christopher.

State Sen. Dale Fowler says the 24-year-old Vanfossen served the Christopher Fire Department for three years. Fowler went to say that Vanfossen’s grandfather and Christopher Mayor, Gary Bartelotti, told him Vanfossen always wanted to be a firefighter and when he was five years old, Vanfossen had a full fireman’s suit, bag and hat.

Vanfossen is survived by his fiancé Casey Garrett, 5 month old son Erik Michael Vanfossan along with several other family members.

Vanfossen’s funeral is set for Friday morning at 11 at the Christopher High School Gym. Burial will be at St Andrews Catholic Cemetery in Christopher.